Two-thirds of New Jersey's inmates end up back in prison within three years of release, and the state is looking to change this statistic by offering more assistance with prisoner re-entry.

Current laws bar some offenders from obtaining jobs, food stamps, public housing and other necessities. Many of these offenders, 35% according to some reports, are non-violent drug offenders. For example, DWI offenders with multiple arrests will serve time in jail but potentially miss out on treatment once released. These individuals likely deal with issues of addiction, and without proper rehabilitation they have limited resources for success.

New Jersey has the highest population of non-violent drug offenders in prison of any state. They also spend a good chunk of change, about $50,000 per inmate per year, to keep them there. Having these individuals return to jail is a financial drain.

In response, the New Jersey legislature is planning programs to waive some mandatory sentences for drug offenders. In one such change, drug offenses within 1,000 feet of a school used to be punished with mandatory jail time; this jail time may now be waived if no children were harmed.

The total legislation package, proposed by Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, also includes plans to educate and train offenders while they are in prison. Re-entry programs will be considered.