Corrections chief has no desire for maintaining the status quo
BY JUDY PEET
Star-Ledger Staff
Last November, New Jersey Corrections Commissioner Devon Brown likened prisons to "America's new plantation" in a speech that caused an uproar.

"For not since slavery has our country promoted policies which have visited such enormous economic and human calamity on the black community," he said.

Asked recently whether he regretted the comments, given the controversy, Brown said: "I am without apology for the truth."

Devon Brown is the new guy in town, a prison honcho unlike New Jersey has ever known. In state history, there had only been two previous corrections commissioners: William Fauver, whose iron-fisted rule lasted 20 years, and Jack Terhune, whose four-year stint was distinguished by the number of major lawsuits the department lost.

Brown, 54, believes in talk. And change. Preferably done at the same time.

Since he arrived in New Jersey in April 2002, Brown has cut corrections officers' overtime by $37.5 million. He instituted parenting and morality classes in the prisons, banned trash TV, promoted new education and nontraditional job training.

He launched a behavioral modification program and anti-crime public service announcements. He got funding for a major initiative to reduce recidivism and went firmly on record against mandatory minimum sentencing and for alternative sentencing for low-level drug offenders and the mentally ill.

Brown has made some powerful enemies, including the unions and political hard-liners who see him as soft on crime.

Brown, who holds advanced degrees in law, psychology and public administration, says he doesn't care about controversy. Besides, polemic is more fun.

His more important goal, Brown says, is to "get people to talk about criminal justice issues. We have to get these issues out on the table."

In a recent Star-Ledger interview, Brown talked extensively about his views of crime and punishment:

"You must start the discussion by understanding that criminal justice is an industry. It is driven by people who have a vested interest in the status quo. Remember that when you hear people say we can't afford to change," he said. "Change can come through lawsuits or leadership. New Jersey has been lawsuit-driven in the past. I think it's time to try leadership."

Many of his views are as controversial as his remarks about prisons and plantations. Consider:

"I agree that our (corrections) primary mission is public safety. Helping offenders function on the outside furthers that mission. For every offender that gets out and gets a job, that's one less person victimizing you and me.

"Warehousing prisoners has failed. If you can't support reforms on the basis of compassion, then do it on the basis of money and self-interest."

Brown has strong opinions on prison for women as well.

"Women are in prison, to a large extent, because of exploitation by men. That they might be further exploited in prison is absolutely unacceptable.

"We are not doing enough. We were too far behind the curve here in New Jersey, too insular in our approach to criminals, too one-size-fits-all justice.

"Women are unique and deserve to be treated uniquely. If that means we eventually have to consider taking male corrections officers off the cellblocks at Edna Mahan, then I'll consider it. After all, I did it before when I ran a women's prison in Maryland. ...

"I know some states have done it, but I don't think children should be in prison with their mothers. Maybe we should change the model and keep both the mother and child under supervision out in the community," he said.

Now he's just warming up.

"I don't like the word liberal when it comes to justice reform. Let's just say it's time for New Jersey to start heading away from very conservative to just a little bit more down the middle."