HB57

With inflation and the cost of living, the minimum wage NEEDS to be raised to be a livable wage.

This positive bill would expand eligibility for certain incarcerated people to finish the remainder of their sentence at home if they are pursuing a post-secondary education. I would think that this bill would decrease recidivism.

It just makes sense to offer channels for people who have been incarcerated to equip themselves for more productive participation in society to reduce or eliminate re-incarceration.

I oppose HB415. This is a successful program that helps girls caught off guard (many are irregular at this age), or those who are poor. When I taught middle and high school I always had food for those who needed it and a student lunch ticket a hungry kid could borrow. I realize now I should have had menstrual products for the girls. I learned later that there were those who made pads and tampons "last" because they couldn't afford to change them when they should. That is unsanitary and can lead to infection. Menstrual products should be as available to students as toilet paper and paper towels are. I am surprised there are women supporting this bill. Please vote ITL.

I love this idea. Incarceration should be about rehabilitation and school/work release is a huge component of rehabilitation. People who are rehabilitated lower the recidivism rate. a lower recidivism rate saves money. I am a little concerned about funding because school obviously costs money and who is going to pay for this? I wish there was some kind of thing in here about the grades or attendance. Its harder to get kicked out of class for not showing up than it is to lose a job for not showing up. I'm also worried that somebody may be going to school for a job they can't get in the future and it being a "waste". I would also like if we are training people in occupations that we are in desperate need of (fire fighters, nurses, trades)

I support HB 57, relative to a person’s release from prison for the purpose of participating in certain post-secondary education programs in the community. This positive bill would expand eligibility for certain incarcerated people to finish the remainder of their sentence at home if they are pursuing a post-secondary education. Incarcerated individuals who have entered classes while in prison, finished classes, and want to pursue an advanced degree to improve their lives deserves a second chance. Entering society with this type background can only serve these individuals well for the future.

GIVE ME A BREAK WITH THIS BILL.

If the purpose of sentencing in New Hampshire includes 'rehabilitation' as well as 'vengeance", this bill should be approved.

This bill does not take into account some of the harsh realities of a minor female's life and presumes that she has a healthy and open relationship with her parents. What if she lives in a physically and verbally abusive household? Will she be subjected to more abuse and possibly thrown out of her house because of the pregnancy? What is she has been raped and is afraid to tell her parents because their religious and/or cultural beliefs state that she brought this on herself? What if she has been a victim of incest and raped by her father, stepfather, cousin, uncle, brother, or stepbrother? Each of those aforementioned scenarios prevent a girl from asking permission for an abortion or having any family member take her for one. Furthermore, the language in the bill uses the words trafficking and recruitment as if the girl is being used for sexual purposes. These are just some of the many problems with this bill and I believe it opens the door to further restrictions on all women and those who help them (just like Texas). I urge the committee to widen their view on the real lives of other people and take it into account when making a decision about their vote.

Good education is one of the best ways to lower crime rates. Helping people get a good education and get a good job will help decrease crime.

The more prepared for life outside of prison someone is, the more likely they are to be successful citizens. Policies like this make us all safer.

This bill provides an excellent opportunity for an incarcerated person to be reintroduced to the outside community, and to gain the knowledge or certification to reduce recidivism.

As a 10-years member of the Citizens Advisory Board to the NH Correctional Facility for Women, I can tell you that some of the women have worked very hard to turn their lives around. But getting a degree while incarcerated is long, drawn out, and so far done by correspondence courses! For women who qualify, release from the prison while working on their education is the most sensible thing we could offer to ensure they never recidivate and instead become the kinds of workers our state needs.