Cumberland County jail program offers inmates a 'last chance'

Spencer Kent/South Jersey Times By Spencer Kent/South Jersey Times Follow on Twitter on February 05, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Last Chance Re-Entry Program graduate, Melissa Niles, talks about her journey through the program at the Cumberland County Jail, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Inmates learn coping skills for entrance back into the community. Niles knows first-hand what it takes to be successful through the program. (Staff Photo by Cindy Hepner/South Jersey Times)

BRIDGETON A group of inmates at the Cumberland County Jail sat wearing their bright tangerine jumpsuits, white socks and staid expressions as prison guards stood positioned around the room near heavy doors with mechanical locks. Melissa Niles was not wearing a jumpsuit. Unless she told you, you might never have known that the Vineland resident was once an inmate at the county jail herself. Niles has been working as a counselor at the jail for the past five years. I had to spend a significant amount of time in jail, Niles said. It was a very painful time. It wasnt the white picket fence that I had envisioned as a kid. On Oct. 18, 2002, Niles was convicted on drug charges and sent to the county jail. She had also served time in jail prior to that. Niles, who was pregnant and bound by an addiction to cocaine and benzos (benzodiazepines) at the time, was forced to confront some stark realities of life while incarcerated. It was my bottom, she said. But I was willing to do what ever the staff told me to do. Being pregnant while serving time was shameful because I wasnt living right, but it was a big motivation for me to get my life together. While in jail, I met my counselor, Ms. S., who never gave up on me.

Margaret Griner-Siniavsky, aka Ms. S., is project director of the drug and alcohol program at the jail. Griner-Siniavsky, who has been working at the jail for 15 years, mentored Niles, helping with her child after she gave birth as well as helping her get into the jails drug and alcohol program. Griner-Siniavsky believes this kind of individual attention is essential to reduce recidivism among inmates. Its important that we give these people the life skills they need so they can be successful upon their release, Griner-Siniavsky said as an inmate and guard boarded the loud elevator in the hall. It is about giving individual attention. Following her release, Niles acquired a bachelors degree, a masters degree in counseling, and a post graduate certificate in marriage and family therapy. Today, she uses her education and her experience from living on the street to connect with inmates. What people want more than anything else is to know that someone understands them, Niles said. I dont have all the answers, but I offer understanding and give suggestions to people suffering with addiction. It is powerful, making someone realize that, Hey, Im not a scumbag, and someone is willing to help me despite all the things I have done somebody believes in me. But I cant help anyone who doesnt want to help themselves, she added. Cumberland County Jail Warden Bob Balicki teamed up with Rutgers University at Newark to enact the Last Chance re-entry program in May 2011, making the kind of personal attention experienced by Niles available to a range of inmates. Rutgers is collecting data to improve inmate recidivism rates. In order to be accepted into Last Chance, an inmate cannot have a capital, sex, or arson offense. They must also score well on their compass assessment an evaluation of an inmates personality and personal history including whether they are an addict or alcoholic, plus their educational background and other information to identify issues that could potentially inhibit success upon release. Based on an inmates assessment, the correct treatment is provided including counseling, medication, education and life-skills. Once a Last Chance inmate is released, a counselor follows up for 90 to 120 days or longer, depending on the inmates needs. Balicki believes criminal and addictive behaviors are complex issues that need to be addressed in an equally complex way not merely throwing away the key for anyone and everyone convicted. Some of these guys belong in jail, and I will be tough on them because they belong here, Balicki said. But thats not the majority of whats going on here. We need to take a different approach. The way the economy is, you cant afford to just lock everybody up, and its just not the right thing to do anyway. Instead, we need to invest in people, like education. Because if theres nothing for them to do when they leave, then thats not really going to help the situation. Weve got to stop pretending that there is a single pill that fixes things. Theres a reason that addicts are addi cts, and we are trying to deal with the reason. We have been failing in society for centuries, and you dont turn that around over night. This is one little piece, but we need to go into the communities and make up for the inadequate education and the opportunities people have missed.

People talk about doing the hard things, the warden added. Well, these are the hard things. And if I have someone who doesnt commit a crime again when they leave here, then Ive done my job. Freeholder Joe Derella visited the jail and expressed his support for the re-entry program. I have spent time at the jail because I want to understand the process and the re-entry program, Derella said last week. The issues we face regarding jobs, education and crime are int erconnected. Education is the cornerstone when it comes to employment and preventing crime. And if you can help a dozen people in a year not to be re-incarcerated, youre not only helping to invest in a persons life and their success, but you are saving the county money as well. Contact Spencer Kent at 856-451-1000 ext. 516 or at skent@southjerseymedia.com. Follow @theSJtimes 2013 NJ.com. All rights reserved.