NJ Latino Caucus Backs Murphy’s Plan For Prison Pardons

NEW JERSEY — The Legislative Latino Caucus is backing Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to grant “clemency” to several eligible groups of prison inmates in New Jersey.

Members of the caucus – which includes several state senators and assembly members – said the plan has the “power to change lives.” Read their full statement below.

Murphy signed Executive Order No. 362 earlier this week. The governor said his administration will be fast-tracking pardons and commutations for eligible inmates – a move that advocates have been urging him to greenlight over the past year. See Related: NJ Governor Launches 'Clemency' Plan For Prison Inmates, Parolees

Some people who will have a shot at early release include:

• Victims of domestic or sexual violence or sex trafficking who are incarcerated for committing a crime against the perpetrator
• People who were given sentences with an “excessive trial penalty”
• People found guilty of certain non-violent convictions if they have “remained free from justice system involvement for a sufficient time”

Some prisoners who may be eligible for expedited review include people who committed crimes before they turned 25 and did not reoffend. Others include people sentenced to long sentences during the “War on Drugs,” the Associated Press reported.

Current prison inmates aren’t the only ones who can benefit from clemency: it also applies to people on parole or probation, or who have been burdened with unfair criminal records.

The governor’s office has created a website where people can learn more about the plan or apply for clemency online (learn more here).

LATINO CAUCUS: A ‘NEW HOPE’

New Jersey’s Legislative Latino Caucus issued a joint statement about the governor’s clemency plan (read it below).

The members of the caucus include senators Nellie Pou, M. Teresa Ruiz and Nilsa Cruz-Perez, and Assembly members Rosy Bagolie, Christian Barranco, Alixon Collazos-Gill, Yvonne Lopez, Julio Marenco, Carmen Morales, Eliana Pintor-Marin, Annette Quijano, Jessica Ramirez and Gabriel Rodriguez.

“Despite a number of criminal justice reforms that our state has undertaken and pushed through over the last decade, New Jersey’s rate of incarceration is still too high, and still largely affects persons of color, particularly those who are Black or Latino.

“We, members of the Legislative Latino Caucus, applaud Governor Murphy’s new Clemency Initiative, which has the power to change lives, and that could give those who qualify a second chance to enjoy a fulfilling and productive life.

“This initiative continues needed positive change for those serving time, and signals new hope for those incarcerated who are facing excessively long terms, or unjust sentences.

“This new reform will offer perhaps thousands new hope; furthermore, it signals to the rest of the nation that New Jersey continues to be serious about prison reform and addressing racial disparities in the system, inequities that have traditionally landed hardest on people from low-income neighborhoods.

“The Legislative Latino Caucus stands solidly behind this visionary initiative and looks forward to seeing it implemented in full, in order to make our State a more just and equitable place to work and live.”

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