Mercer Times

New Jersey to Look for New Potential Uses as the New Jersey Training School and Female Secure Care and Intake Facility Set to Close

TRENTON – With plans progressing for new youth facilities in New Jersey and two existing facilities set to close, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced the creation of the Youth Justice Working Group: From Secure Care to Restorative Care, tasked with providing recommendations regarding repurposing the two facilities due to close.

New Jersey’s comprehensive and systemic youth justice reform has transformed the way the State’s youth justice system encounters young people, significantly reducing the number of young people sent to county-operated detention centers and Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) facilities. As a result of these reform efforts, in 2017, the State announced that the New Jersey Training School and the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility would close, and funding would be made available to construct new, smaller, state-of-the-art facilities for youth who need intensive support services. The first of these new facilities is set to open in 2027.

Following the creation by Governor Phil Murphy of the Task Force for the Continued Transformation of Youth Justice in New Jersey in 2018, the Task Force recommended creating a group to look at options for repurposing the two facilities. This Working Group announced today is the next step in that process.

“As a national leader in youth justice reform, New Jersey has much to be proud of for improving the well-being of our justice-involved youth. I was proud to sign Executive Order No. 42 early in my Administration to establish the Youth Justice Task Force to provide recommendations on strategies to continue reforming our state’s youth justice system. It was these recommendations that were provided in the Youth Justice Task Force Report in 2022 that helped continue moving our state in the right direction,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The Youth Justice Working Group will provide recommendations that ensure that once closed, the New Jersey Training School and Female Secure Care and Intake Facility are mindfully repurposed to continue our efforts to create a stronger, fairer, more equitable, and restorative juvenile justice system.”

“New Jersey continues to be a national model for systemic youth justice reform. Our comprehensive efforts, principally through Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI), have drastically reduced youths entering the justice system,” said Attorney General Platkin. “These achievements are predicated on our continued commitment to implementing innovative rehabilitative and prevention strategies. The working group we announce today is tasked with identifying innovative uses for two facilities set to close so we can continue designing new opportunities for youth growth particularly from historically disenfranchised communities.”

One building, Bordentown's Female Secure Care and Intake Facility site housed former New Jersey Manual Training & Industrial School for Colored Youth known locally as Bordentown School founded by Rev Walter A Rice once among nation’s important secondary schools African Americans dubbed “Tuskegee North.” Closed during '50s working group guided Bordentown legacy informed strides transforming NJ youth justice.

Attorney General Platkin joined Ryan P Haygood President CEO NJ Institute Social Justice; Rev Dr Charles Boyer Executive Director Salvation Social Justice Pastor Greater Mt Zion AME Church Trenton; several individuals ties former Manual Training Industrial School MTIS including John Medley class '54.

“Frederick Douglass told us it’s easier build strong children than repair broken men commend Attorney General visionary announcement leadership today puts truth action all NJ young people deserve investments build them up,” said Ryan Haygood President CEO NJ Institute Social Justice “For too long NJ deep investments incarcerating young overwhelmingly Black Brown Through work Attorney General campaign partners NJ become national leader adopting policies sharply reduce number prison making deep financial other investments community-based programming keep kids communities thrive plan now close antiquated prisons use sites forward-thinking community perhaps even 21st Century version historic Bordentown capstone progress made together Garden State look forward continued partnership see come life.”

“I am reminded enduring legacy remarkable leaders Rev Walter A Rice Rev I W L Rountree forged partnership lay foundation Bordentown As AME minister current pastor Mount Zion Trenton very church shepherded deeply honored continue work began grateful work Attorney General Matt Platkin NJ Institute Social moving work forward closing moving toward affirmative vision children,” said Rev Dr Charles Boyer Executive Director Salvation Social Pastor Greater Mt Zion AME Church Trenton

Youth Justice Working Group: From Secure Care Restorative Care include:

- Attorney General Matthew J Platkin designees Dan Hafetz Marihug Pena Senior Counsels

- Reverend Dr Charles Boyer Executive Director Salvation Social Pastor Greater Mt Zion AME Church Trenton

- Ryan Haygood President CEO NJ Institute Social

- J Amos Caley Pastor Reformed Highland Park Abolition Campaign Senior Fellow Salvation Social

- Derick Dailey Counsel Crowell Moring LLP

- Bonnie Goldman President Bordentown Historical Society

- Mildred Rice Jordan Associate Professor emerita Rider University

- Jennifer LeBaron Executive Director Juvenile Commission

- Alex Shalom Partner Lowenstein

- Elana Wilf Advocate Member Monroe Township's Citizens Review Board

- Youth Member ex officio member JJC State Advisory comprised twelve currently under care supervision

NJ committed implementing promoting policies practices improve outcomes families communities involved impacted system formation latest series implemented leadership AG Platkin Under leadership Governor Murphy support Legislature AG obtained approval create three state-of-the-art northern central southern regions replace smaller structures designed promote healing rehabilitation safe reintegration Plans underway Winslow Ewing construction bid process expected begin fall completion early ’27 location northern finalized funding allocated Murphy's FY25 Budget

In '21 Restorative Transformative Pilot Program signed law $8 4 million allocated fund Hubs community-led non-residential dedicated providing continuum care Earlier year operational Camden Essex hubs Mercer Passaic opening soon Through range comprehensive reforms led AG partnership courts prosecutors community leaders providers significantly reduced population entering criminal improved opportunities returning following encounters:

NJ experienced approximate reduction since ‘04 detained county result Alternatives Initiative nationally recognized established Annie E Casey Foundation;

Reduction same period commitments custody resulting virtual elimination reliance incarceration minor offenses;

Decrease population placed county state color make about reduction decrease involved crime;

Issuance statewide Directive law aided diversion nonviolent limited likelihood unnecessary detention public safety risk;

Collaboration educational institutions able make available academic courses certificate programs including Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Refrigeration Technician Certification offer customized training curricula tailored unique needs

NJ proud efforts already implemented progress area recognizes more work done grateful willingness members serve offer vision brighter future.