A New Beginning: How Fresh Start Supports Returning Citizens in New Jersey
Fresh Start is a re-entry program designed to help returning citizens who have spent time in prison in the New Jersey area. The program was launched at the Long Branch Free Public Library by Tonya Garcia, who recognized a significant need within the community through the library’s Virtual Career Center. Garcia observed that many job seekers had a history of arrest and incarceration, which made it nearly impossible for them to find employment after being released. After the library proposed the idea, the New Jersey State Library Literacy Grant awarded a $44,000 grant, which allowed the Fresh Start program to begin. The grant also funded the expansion of the Back to Work Initiative.
Formerly incarcerated individuals face many obstacles, with one of the most pressing being the inability to secure employment. Fresh Start addresses these challenges by focusing on résumé building, computer skills, professional development, support groups, workshops, and social worker services. Although there is no precise data on how many people have participated, the program is a crucial resource in the community, offering help to many.
To gain more insight, I spoke with David Perez, the Bilingual Social Worker and Diversity Services Manager at Long Branch. He emphasized that Fresh Start is not a stand-alone program and has evolved since its inception in 2009, including the introduction of social workers to assist with reintegration efforts. The program has also extended its reach into halfway houses, with creative marketing playing a key role in its growth.
Perez explained the program’s broader impact: “Fresh Start has always been an offering at the Long Branch Free Public Library. The New Jersey State Library adopted the brand in 2019, with the help of an IMLS grant, and made it available statewide. It has since expanded to the Newark Public Library, Patterson Public Library, Trenton Public Library, Atlantic City Public Library, and Cumberland County Library.”
The program has highlighted the fact that many returning citizens lack a strong support system, leaving them without the help of family and friends after their release. Many participants view the library as a safe space where they can seek assistance without facing society’s harsh judgment. According to Perez, individuals can stay in the program for as long as they need. Although Fresh Start does not receive federal funding, the demand for it remains high. According to the Population Characteristics Report from January 1, 2024, there are 12,978 people in prison in New Jersey, many of whom face significant barriers to housing and employment upon release.
Additionally, many returning citizens were incarcerated at a young age—some as early as 12—and the majority have spent three years or more in prison. Upon release, many do not have an address or identification, making it nearly impossible to secure employment. The lack of resources available to these individuals perpetuates a harmful cycle of incarceration, often leading to homelessness, drug use, and depression. Fresh Start aims to break this cycle by helping returning citizens obtain employment, secure housing, learn technology skills, and invest in their professional development. For many participants and their families, the program offers hope for a better future.
Perez shared a success story to illustrate the program’s impact: “We’ve assisted many here at Long Branch, but one case stands out. The individual was highly qualified in his field, and most job interviews resulted in offers, but once the employers received his background check, the offers were rescinded. I referred him to a large hospital system that was willing to consider applicants with low-level offenses. After several calls and special consideration from their HR department, he was hired, and his life began to improve immediately.”
Programs like Fresh Start are essential to supporting returning citizens. Without proper assistance, individuals released from prison are vulnerable to poverty and exploitation, possibly resorting to illegal means to survive. This lack of support traps them in a cycle of crime, leading many back to prison. By providing empowerment programs, we can help break the stigma of being a former prisoner and create positive change that benefits both individuals and the broader community. In the end, investing in people is the most valuable and enduring contribution we can make to society.
Tags: formerlyincarceratedinpubliclibraries, freshstartreentryprogram, reentryprogramsinp, servingtheformerlyincarcerated
