The New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) held its annual conference at Saint Peter’s University yesterday, focusing on domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
NJRC Executive Director Jim McGreevey, also a former governor and a Jersey City mayoral candidate, opened the conference, noting the somber nature of the topic.
“Crimes that are overwhelmingly focused upon women, and today we will hear from those survivors,” he noted.
“When women respond against their perpetrators … to protect themselves and or their children in committing an act of violence, so often when they’re prosecuted … the judge does not have the ability to understand the historical of the trauma and of the violence,” McGreevey explained, acknowledging several survivors throughout the conference.
He continued that that they released a report advocating for the Survivors Justice Act in the New Jersey legislature to address this issue.
“If a judge presides over a trial as to a single incident when a woman responds against her perpetrator but doesn’t understand the history … then the justice system does that woman a profound disservice,” McGreevey added.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy noted he was a Jersey City police officer for 26 years and earned the rank of lieutenant before retiring.
“Far too many times back then, I saw victims of domestic violence, and there was no outlet … there was no outlet for them to get help,” he began.
“As a police officer back then, it was frustrating and disappointing to see as public servants, we couldn’t do more for the victims … I’m a big advocate for women’s rights, big advocate for protecting all of women’s rights.”
Guy noted he has jurisdiction over the Hudson County Correctional Facility and its reentry program.
“We hope they leave that facility a better human being. It’s the start of what we hope is the start of a new life … We hope that within that facility that the services we offer on all ends… that we can make our folks a better person when they leave that facility.”
“Just like Easter, NJRC is about revitalization.”
He noted McGreevey is pushing the bill to help victims, and he endorsed it.
“I commit to you as a county executive and a county chair of a political party that I’ll do in power to educate and encourage our legislators so they can go down there and support this great legislation,” Guy stated.
“I am a big advocate for funding for all these issues. Government is strangled these days with financial issues and it gets even worse now with the government that’s down in Washington, D.C. But we will prevail.”
McGreevey thanked Archdiocese of Newark Cardinal Joseph Tobin for helping women struggling and introduced its head and called him up to speak.
Tobin then explained he previously worked in Indiana helping those in a prison where the death penalty was implemented.
“It’s not a question of whether somebody deserves to die. It’s a question of whether we deserve to kill,” he asserted.
Tobin said there was a limited number of things he could do to help people.
“Oftentimes, they’re set up to fail,” he noted.
Tobin noted the value of working on helping with rehabilitation, which they have been doing with the NJRC.
“In the world economy …. the most lucrative activity is the sale of arms. The second is human trafficking,” he declared.
Tobin noted that since human trafficking is often unseen, it is difficult to address.
“We thank the media and some courageous reporters who brought to light modern forms of enslavement,” he said.
“It’s essential to listen to those suffering. Let’s once more dream of a world where people can live with freedom and dignity … We know the fight against violence and abuse, and trafficking can be won. But it’s necessary to get to the root of the problem and eliminate the causes.”
New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy sent a video message to the conference.
“These issues are not just individual struggles. They are society crises,” she said.
Murphy noted they have been working on programs at the state level to help with felons and prisoners.
“We see you, we hear you. We are here to support you. This work is not easy, but it is essential.”
NJRC Executive Director Jim McGreevey, also a former governor and a Jersey City mayoral candidate, opened the conference, noting the somber nature of the topic.
“Crimes that are overwhelmingly focused upon women, and today we will hear from those survivors,” he noted.
“When women respond against their perpetrators … to protect themselves and or their children in committing an act of violence, so often when they’re prosecuted … the judge does not have the ability to understand the historical of the trauma and of the violence,” McGreevey explained, acknowledging several survivors throughout the conference.
Did he really say that these things or do you have a writing problem, brah?
That is definitely what he said:
https://x.com/jim_mcgreevey/status/1914447325965037754