MCRTF seeks to build a safer and more just Mercer County through advocacy, awareness building, and collaborative action. This is the view from an AmeriCorps VISTA member working in MCRTF.

1. MERCER
COUNTY REENTRY
TASK
FORCE
AMERICORPS VISTA
SERVICE YEAR
2016-2017

2. GOAL
Aiming to tackle the issue of recidivism among low
income communities
▪Originally aimed to target youth as target population as
stated on VAD
▪Expanded to include reentry population as a whole

3. WHO DO WE HELP
All Ages
• Individuals returning home from incarceration
Broadened Focus
• VAD: Youth – All ages
• Mercer County jail
• Future goal: Help individuals coming home from state prisons

4. WHO DO WE HELP
All Ages
• Individuals returning home from incarceration
Broadened Focus
• VAD: Youth – All ages
• Mercer County jail
• Future goal: Help individuals coming home from state prisons

5. WHO DO WE HELP
All Ages
• Individuals returning home from incarceration
Broadened Focus
• VAD: Youth – All ages
• Mercer County jail
• Future goal: Help individuals coming home from state prisons

6. DEMOGRAPHICS

7. DEMOGRAPHICS (CON’T)

8. PARTNERS
*The College of New Jersey Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research
(Site) *
Mercer County Community College
A Better Way
Juvenile and Adult Re-Entry Connections (JARC)
NJ Department of Corrections
NJ State Parole
Trenton Campaign to End the New Jim Crow

9. EVENTS
Syringe Exchange Program

10. ONE DAY AT THE OFFICE
Looking through NJ.com/facebook/ny times for possible articles that will be
important for
Meet with supervisor to discuss current project and future direction
• Research any topics of interest for that week
• Office of First Entry: Search or request data through the use of OPRA (Open Public
Records Act)
• Ex: ID policies, housing authority restrictions
Look at Square2 and Task Force websites and update information as needed
Complete meeting minutes as necessary
Enjoy my lunch!

11. CHALLENGES
Funding
• The MCRTF isn’t receiving funding and is unable to fund programs
• Advocate
Staffing
• Use of educational assets/ no permanent staff
• Interns and college assets have limited time frame to focus on task force activities