Child Support
Federal law prohibits forgiveness of child support debt once it
accrues. To get relief, an individual (with no independent
resources) must ask the court (file a motion accurately stating
the child's name, date of birth, venue in which the order is
processed, etc.) to "modify" an order as quickly as possible
once incarcerated to reflect that he or she is not earning
enough in prison to continue to pay child support. The court
order can be "suspended" until release when the court can assess
an offender's debts and reinstitute it. However, any child
support debt that has accrued up until the date that a correct
petition is filed in court cannot be discharged.
Education/Training/Employment
There are One-Stop Career Centers in every county in New Jersey.
One-Stop Career Centers can help you (1) improve your reading
and basic skills, (2) get job training, (3) make career
decisions, (4) strengthen your job-search skills (5) find a job,
(6) start your own business, and much more.
If you initiate apprenticeship agreements while incarcerated
they can be continued upon release. Many of the vocational
programs offer nationally recognized certification upon
completion. Completing an OSHA Safety course increases your
ability to gain employment upon release.
If you receive your GED and misplace your diploma you can
contact the Department of Corrections' Office of Educational
Services or the Department of Education to obtain an official
transcript, as duplicate diplomas are not issued.
Federal Bonding Program
Employers who hire ex-offenders could benefit from the U.S.
Department of Labor's Federal Bonding Program. This program
allows employers to purchase fidelity bonds to indemnify them
for loss of money or property sustained through the dishonest
acts of their employees. The bond is given to the employer
free-of-charge, and serves as an incentive to the company to
hire ex-offenders.
N.J.S.A 2A: 168A-l Licensing Notwithstanding the contrary
provisions of any law or rule or regulation issued pursuant to
law, a person shall not be disqualified or discriminated against
by any licensing authority because of any conviction for a
crime, unless N.J.S. 2C: 51-2 [Forfeiture of Public Office] is
applicable or unless the conviction relates adversely to the
occupation, trade, vocation, profession or business for which
the license or certificate is sought.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) The WOTC (P.L. 104-188), is a
federal tax credit that encourages employers to hire an
excelling who is a member of a low income family, reducing
employers' federal income tax liability by as much as $2,400 per
qualified new worker; $750, if working 120 hours or $1,200, if
working 400 hours or more. WOTC applies to new hires that begin
work for an employer on or after December 31, 2003 and before
January 1, 2006. For more information contact the U.S.
Department of Labor WOTC Coordinator.
Non-drivers State Identification
You can still get a non-drivers state identification card even
if your driver's license is currently suspended. Contact the
Motor Vehicle
Commission at 1 (888) 486-3339.
Social Security Benefits
Although you cannot receive monthly Social Security benefit
payments while you are confined, your spouse or children can be
paid benefits on your record if they are eligible. Social
Security disability benefits can be paid to people who have
recently worked and paid Social Security taxes and are unable to
work because of a serious medical condition that is expected to
last at least a year or result in death. Social Security
retirement benefits can be paid to people who are 62 or older.
Generally, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes
for 10 years to be eligible. SSI payments can be paid to people
who are 65 or older, or who are blind or disabled and whose
income and resources are below certain limits.
(3) Child Support
Federal law prohibits forgiveness of child support debt once it
accrues. To get relief, an individual (with no independent
resources) must ask the court (file a motion accurately stating
the child's name, date of birth, venue in which the order is
processed, etc.) to "modify" an order as quickly as possible
once incarcerated to reflect that he or she is not earning
enough in prison to continue to pay child support. The court
order can be "suspended" until release when the court can assess
an offender's debts and reinstitute it. However, any child
support debt that has accrued up until the date that a correct
petition is filed in court cannot be discharged.
Education/Training/Employment
There are One-Stop Career Centers in every county in New Jersey.
One-Stop Career Centers can help you (1) improve your reading
and basic skills, (2) get job training, (3) make career
decisions, (4) strengthen your job-search skills (5) find a job,
(6) start your own business, and much more.
If you initiate apprenticeship agreements while incarcerated
they can be continued upon release. Many of the vocational
programs offer nationally recognized certification upon
completion. Completing an OSHA Safety course increases your
ability to gain employment upon release.
If you receive your GED and misplace your diploma you can
contact the Department of Corrections' Office of Educational
Services or the Department of Education to obtain an official
transcript, as duplicate diplomas are not issued.
Federal Bonding Program
Employers who hire ex-offenders could benefit from the U.S.
Department of Labor's Federal Bonding Program. This program
allows employers to purchase fidelity bonds to indemnify them
for loss of money or property sustained through the dishonest
acts of their employees. The bond is given to the employer
free-of-charge, and serves as an incentive to the company to
hire ex-offenders.
N.J.S.A 2A: 168A-l Licensing Notwithstanding the contrary
provisions of any law or rule or regulation issued pursuant to
law, a person shall not be disqualified or discriminated against
by any licensing authority because of any conviction for a
crime, unless N.J.S. 2C: 51-2 [Forfeiture of Public Office] is
applicable or unless the conviction relates adversely to the
occupation, trade, vocation, profession or business for which
the license or certificate is sought.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) The WOTC (P.L. 104-188), is a
federal tax credit that encourages employers to hire an exfelon
who is a member of a low income family, reducing employers'
federal income tax liability by as much as $2,400 per qualified
new worker; $750, if working 120 hours or $1,200, if working 400
hours or more. WOTC applies to new hires that begin work for an
employer on or after December 31, 2003 and before January 1,
2006. For more information contact the U.S. Department of Labor
WOTC Coordinator.
Non-drivers State Identification
You can still get a non-drivers state identification card even
if your driver's license is currently suspended. Contact the
Motor Vehicle
Commission at 1 (888) 486-3339.
Social Security Benefits
Although you cannot receive monthly Social Security benefit
payments while you are confined, your spouse or children can be
paid benefits on your record if they are eligible. Social
Security disability benefits can be paid to people who have
recently worked and paid Social Security taxes and are unable to
work because of a serious medical condition that is expected to
last at least a year or result in death. Social Security
retirement benefits can be paid to people who are 62 or older.
Generally, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes
for 10 years to be eligible. SSI payments can be paid to people
who are 65 or older, or who are blind or disabled and whose
income and resources are below certain limits.
(3) General Assistance or Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (Welfare) You may be eligible to receive cash benefits
under General Assistance (GA) or Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) if you completed a licensed drug treatment
program in prison and are drug free. Contact the County Board of
Social Services.
Voting Rights
You must register to vote before you can go to the polls.
Veteran's Benefits
If you have a dishonorable discharge from the military, you can
appeal and the dishonorable discharge may be overturned. You
would then be eligible for veteran's benefits. If you have an
honorable discharge from the military, even with a felony
conviction, you are entitled to veteran's benefits. Contact the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
You can register to vote if you meet the following
qualifications:
(1) United States citizen; (2) at least 18 years of age on
election day; (3) New Jersey resident at least 30 days before
the election; (4) not in prison, on probation or parole because
of a felony conviction; (5) registered to vote at least 29 days
before the election and (6) you have not been declared by a
court to be mentally incompetent.
Medicare & Medicaid
Medicare is the national health insurance program that pays for
medical assistance for certain individuals with low incomes and
resources who
(1) are age 65 or older
(2) are under age 65 with disabilities and (3) have End-Stage
Renal Disease (ESRD)
How and where to register
The Commissioners of Registration cannot accept faxed copies or
an electronic transmission of a voter registration form since an
original signature is required. If you register to vote by mail
for the first time in your county, you will have to provide some
form of identification.
To be eligible for Medicaid, a person must meet these general
requirements:
(1) resident of New Jersey
(2) U.S. Citizen or qualified alien, and
(3) meet specific standards for financial income and resources
|
Where to get registration applications
(1) Division of Elections (2) Commissioner of Registration
office in the County where you live (3) your Municipal Clerk or
online at www.NJELECTIONS.org. You can also register when you
apply for services at a Motor Vehicle Commission Agency and
other state agencies that provide public assistance.
Contact the County Board of Social Services for Medicaid and 1
(800) 633-4227 for Medicare.
Submitting your voter registration application
• Your voter registration application must go to your County
Commissioner of Registration. It is postage paid so it does not
cost anything to mail it.
• You can also drop it off at the commissioner's office or your
Municipal Clerk's Office.
• It must be received by a voter registration agency by the 29th
day before the election.
In addition, a person must fall into one of the following
categories:
(1) families with children up to age 18
(2) people who are aged, blind or permanently disabled
(3) pregnant women or children
You must re-register if:
You change your name. You change your residence
General Assistance or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(Welfare) You may be eligible to receive cash benefits under
General Assistance (GA) or Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) if you completed a licensed drug treatment
program in prison and are drug free. Contact the County Board of
Social Services.
Voting Rights
You must register to vote before you can go to the polls.
Veteran's Benefits
If you have a dishonorable discharge from the military, you can
appeal and the dishonorable discharge may be overturned. You
would then be eligible for veteran's benefits. If you have an
honorable discharge from the military, even with a felony
conviction, you are entitled to veteran's benefits. Contact the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
You can register to vote if you meet the following
qualifications:
(1) United States citizen; (2) at least 18 years of age on
election day; (3) New Jersey resident at least 30 days before
the election; (4) not in prison, on probation or parole because
of a felony conviction; (5) registered to vote at least 29 days
before the election and (6) you have not been declared by a
court to be mentally incompetent.
Medicare & Medicaid
Medicare is the national health insurance program that pays for
medical assistance for certain individuals with low incomes and
resources who
(1) are age 65 or older
(2) are under age 65 with disabilities and (3) have End-Stage
Renal Disease (ESRD)
How and where to register
The Commissioners of Registration cannot accept faxed copies or
an electronic transmission of a voter registration form since an
original signature is required. If you register to vote by mail
for the first time in your county, you will have to provide some
form of identification.
To be eligible for Medicaid, a person must meet these general
requirements:
(1) resident of New Jersey
(2) U.S. Citizen or qualified alien, and
(3) meet specific standards for financial income and resources
Where to get registration applications
(1) Division of Elections (2) Commissioner of Registration
office in the County where you live (3) your Municipal Clerk or
online at www.NJELECTIONS.org. You can also register when you
apply for services at a Motor Vehicle Commission Agency and
other state agencies that provide public assistance.
Contact the County Board of Social Services for Medicaid and 1
(800) 633-4227 for Medicare.
Submitting your voter registration application
• Your voter registration application must go to your County
Commissioner of Registration. It is postage paid so it does not
cost anything to mail it.
• You can also drop it off at the commissioner's office or your
Municipal Clerk's Office.
• It must be received by a voter registration agency by the 29th
day before the election.
In addition, a person must fall into one of the following
categories:
(1) families with children up to age 18
(2) people who are aged, blind or permanently disabled
(3) pregnant women or children
You must re-register if:
You change your name. You change your residence
Voting Rights (Continued) Identification (ID) requirements
You can only be asked to provide ID at the polling place if:
• you are a first time registrant by mail in your county after
January 1, 2003 and you did not provide ID before going to vote
in the polling place or
• You are being properly challenged.
Note: Only the board workers can ask you for ID.
N.J.S.A. lOA: 70-8 Certificate of Good Conduct (Continued)
(1) was previously paroled by the State Parole Board; (2) at
least two years have passed since the date any similar
application was denied, unless the State Parole Board determines
that significant information exists which provides a basis for a
waiver of this limitation. The applicant must apply to the State
Parole Board for a certificate using forms provided by the State
Parole Board.
Where to vote
As a registered voter, you will be sent a sample ballot before
every election. The sample ballot will tell you where you are to
go to vote.
N.J.S.A. lOA: 70-8 Certificate of Good Conduct
The certificate of good conduct is a document issued by the
State Parole Board to assist the rehabilitation of convicted
offenders by removing impediments and restrictions upon their
ability to obtain a proposed employment. This certificate does
not imply pardon and under no circumstances is it to be
construed as forgiving, absolving or mitigating the offense (s).
Issuance of a certificate of good conduct pursuant to NJ.S.A.
2A: l68A-l et seq. Precludes a licensing authority, as defined
in N.J.S.A.2A: l68A-2, from disqualifying or discriminating
against the applicant because of any conviction for a crime,
unless NJ.S.A. 2A: 93-5 is applicable. An application for a
certificate of good conduct shall not be entertained unless the
applicant
N.J.A.C. lOA: 71-6.9 Discharge from Parole
The appropriate Board panel may grant any parolee a complete
discharge from parole prior to the expiration of the maximum
term for which he or she was sentenced, provided that: such
parolee has made a satisfactory adjustment while on parole; and
Continued supervision is not required; (2) The parolee has made
full payment of any assessment, fine, penalty, lab fee or
restitution or the parolee has in good faith established a
satisfactory payment schedule; or (3)In the opinion of the Board
panel continued supervision is not warranted or appropriate
based upon a review of the facts and circumstances. If discharge
is granted, the appropriate Board panel shall issue a discharge
certificate.
Acceptable current and valid photo ID:
(1) New Jersey driver's license; (2) United States passport; (3)
military or other government ID; (4) student or job ID; (5)
store membership ID or (6) any document with your name and
address, e.g. bank statement, car registration, government check
or document, rent receipt, utility bill, any other official
document.
N.J.S.A. 2C: 52-1,52-2 Expungement
The purpose of the expungement statute is to provide relief to a
one-time offender and allow him or her to carry on as if
criminal proceedings had never occurred. However, records of
conviction for the certain offenses shall not be subject to
expungement. The applicant must present a duly verified petition
as provided in NJ.S.A. 2C: 52-7 to the Superior Court in the
county in which the conviction was entered praying that such
conviction and all records and information pertaining thereto be
expunged.
|
