New Jersey has enacted legislation to end prison gerrymandering. It is one of more than a dozen states that counted incarcerated people at home for redistricting purposes in the 2020 redistricting cycle.
New Jersey — Campaign Archive
The U.S. Census Bureau counts incarcerated people where they are confined not where they are from. Using these counts to draw state and local legislative districts enhances the political clout of people who live near prisons at the expense of everyone else in the state or county.
Pending legislation
- S758, "requir[ing] incarcerated individual from State to be counted at residential address for legislative redistricting purposes", introduced by Senators Sandra Cunningham and Nilsa Cruz-Perez on January 9, 2018, passed the Senate on February 21, 2019 and A1987, introduced by Assemblymembers Sumter, Mukherji, Quijano, and Pinkin, January 9, 2018.
Organizations in New Jersey
It's impossible to include everyone who is working toward fair districting in New Jersey, but if you are looking to get involved, these are some of the people and organizations you might want to contact first:
- New Jersey Institute for Social Justice: Henal Patel
- American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey: Dianna Houenou
Fact sheets
- Senate Bill 587: Ending Prison-Based Gerrymandering in New Jersey [PDF]
- States are Authorized to Adjust Census Data to End Prison-Based Gerrymandering, and Many Already Do [PDF]
Testimony
Before the Assembly Appropriations Committee, 2020
- Testimony of Aleks Kajstura (Prison Policy Initiative), January 6, 2020
Before the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee, 2018
- Testimony of Aleks Kajstura (Prison Policy Initiative), September 27, 2018
Before the Assembly Judiciary Committee, 2017
- Testimony of Aleks Kajstura (Prison Policy Initiative), February 13, 2017
Before the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee, 2016
- Testimony of Aleks Kajstura (Prison Policy Initiative), October 17, 2016
Before the Assembly Judiciary Committee, 2014
- Testimony of Alex Shalom (ACLU - New Jersey), February 10, 2014
- Testimony of Aleks Kajstura (Prison Policy Initiative), February 10, 2014
Before the Senate Committee on State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation, 2012
- Testimony of Brother Aula Sumbry (Integrated Justice Alliance of New Jersey, May 14, 2012
- Testimony of Dr. Johanna Foster (Integrated Justice Alliance), May 14, 2012
- Testimony of Alex Shalom (ACLU - New Jersey), May 14, 2012
- Testimony of Nicole Plett (Building One New Jersey), May 14, 2012
- Testimony of Lawrence Hamm and Jean Ross (People's Organization for Progress), May 14, 2012
Before the Apportionment Commission, 2011
- Testimony of Nicole Plett (Integrated Justice Alliance) Before the Apportionment Commission of New Jersey, February 13, 2011
- Testimony of Lewis Webb (Integrated Justice Alliance) Before the Apportionment Commission of New Jersey, February 13, 2011
Exhibits: - Testimony of Cuqui Rivera (Integrated Justice Alliance) Before the Apportionment Commission of New Jersey, February 9, 2011
- Testimony of Dr. Johanna Foster (Integrated Justice Alliance) Before the Apportionment Commission of New Jersey, January 29, 2011
- Testimony of Brother Aula Sumbry (Chair, Racial and Economic Disparities Subcommittee of the Integrated Justice Alliance of New Jersey) Before the Apportionment Commission of New Jersey, January 29, 2011
- Do you have copies of other submitted testimonies? Contact us.
More Information
- Fixing prison-based gerrymandering after the 2010 Census: New Jersey - background information on prison-based gerrymandering in New Jersey.
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
Learn more about the organization behind the Prison Gerrymandering Project.
In prisons, Blacks and Latinos do the time while Whites get the jobs
We explore the racial disparity inside prisons.
Rome NY ends prison gerrymandering, Census Bureau can do better
Rome finally corrected the problem of prison gerrymandering within its borders; other cities and counties need the Census Bureau's help.
Prison-based gerrymandering's historical precedent
This is not the first time a policy barred people of color from the polls and transferred their political power to white voters.