Rutgers-Camden Law School's New Pro Bono Prisoner Re-entry Project
From the National Law Journal…
Students at Rutgers School of Law-Camden are helping federal inmates transition into post-prison life as part of a new pro bono effort.
The Federal Prisoner Re-entry Project at Rutgers-Camden pairs law student volunteers with recently released prisoners. Under the supervision of a managing attorney, the students work with their clients’ federal probation officers to handle issues such as obtaining drug and alcoholic treatment or securing housing.
“We get everything from difficulties with obtaining identification to problems stemming from people who never registered for the Selective Service,” said Todd Berger, managing partner of the project.
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Other law schools offer students the chance to assist prisoners in re-entry through clinics, but Rutgers’ program is unique in that it relies on student volunteers who don’t receive academic credit for the work, Berger said. He initially envisioned that students would spend an hour or two each week on their cases, but the 24 volunteers have been spending more time on client matters as they develop relationship [sic] with their clients.
The PSLawNet Blog is thrilled by this development for two reasons. First, re-entry services are desperately needed and not historically well-funded. One of the most effective ways to prevent recidivism is to make sure a released prisoner doesn’t have the deck stacked against him/her from the start.
Second, one half of the PSLawNet Blog went to law school with Todd Berger. Todd did public defense work in Philly for years and is a good lawyer and good guy. We’re happy – but not surprised – to see him leading this initiative.