Investing in education will help youth more than new juvenile prisons
With all the news about Gov. Chris Christie’s redevelopment project in Trenton being fast tracked following an earlier postponement, another plan received minimal public scrutiny.
Christie’s administration survived an initial review of a plan that will close two juvenile correctional facilities and replace them with three new juvenile sites.
The proposed $170 million project will close the New Jersey Training School for Boys facility in Jamesburg and a girls correctional institution in Bordentown.
New juvenile facilities would then be built in Woodbridge, West Trenton and Hammonton/Winslow.
While Christie signed legislation for sweeping changes regarding improving treatment of juvenile offenders, an investment in early childhood education, libraries and construction of state of the art elementary schools could reduce needs for youth prisons.
Investments in job training, especially for trade union opportunities, would reduce incarceration counts and the need for reentry.
If no entry occurs then no need for reentry exists.
No problem with construction of improved facilities and progressive attitudes regarding juvenile offenders but if there’s $170 million for three prisons then money must exist to reopen four Trenton libraries.
Gov. Christie has supported expungement efforts and voices a need for second chances.
Opening libraries, supporting early-age reading initiatives, supplying students and families with food needs and a litany of other social outreaches that fight poverty can lessen our alleged need to lock up our children.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter@ laparker6.