Second Chance Month

Camden County celebrates Second Chance Month, April 2022, as designated by Proclamation by The White House and President Joseph R. Biden.  This is an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of reentry and to help focus attention on the need to offer opportunities to those who face tremendous barriers once involved with the criminal justice system. “The Commissioner Board is committed to reducing and eliminating as many barriers as possible for our reentering population. It is our mission to ensure that when individuals leave our facilities, they are prepared to rejoin their community, to be successful, and to live a fulfilling life. To that end, our team has implemented a comprehensive series of programs and events to address substance use disorder, unemployment, and other obstacles this population is faced with. Our goal is to supply whatever tools they may need to move forward.”– Camden County Commissioner Jonathan Young. The primary goal of Camden County’s reentry efforts, led by the Department of Corrections, is to transform the way our communities view those with a criminal justice and incarceration history and to rethink how our communities can play an active role in helping individuals remain free of future system involvement by mitigating or all together eliminating the barriers and road blocks to securing employment, housing, treatment and social services, and family reunification. The Camden County Reentry Committee, comprised of myriad system and community-based stakeholders and partners, has been vital to identifying and breaking down barriers, facilitating timely connection to services and providers upon release, and coordination of treatment. Furthermore, the Camden County NuEntry Opportunity Specialists (NOS) have been an invaluable resource, helping their peers transition home following incarceration and to what is often a whole a new world. Throughout the month of April Camden County will continue to highlight reentry efforts, programs, and partners, especially within our community.