NEW JERSEY — This Sunday, March 13, 852 convicted prisoners will be released from jail, under a pandemic-related law that gives "public health emergency credits" to certain prisoners in exchange for a shorter sentence.
In 2020 the New Jersey Legislature passed the "Public Health Emergency Credits" legislation, signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy. This allowed state prisons to issue public health emergency "credits" to prisoners, which would give them shorter sentences.
The law allows prisoners to take 122 days off their sentence for each month served in a public health emergency, which Murphy has declared multiple times in the past two years.
These truncated prison sentences do not apply to all prisoners: Anyone convicted of a sex crime deemed "repetitive and compulsive," or anyone convicted of murder or rape (aggravated sex assault) is not eligible for the shortened sentences.
Also, early release only applies to prisoners who are already within 365 days of their scheduled release date, said Liz Velez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.
Let's go!
So far, New Jersey has released 5,400 inmates early in 2020 and 2021 thanks to the new law, she said. Sunday's release of these additional 852 inmates will bring the total number of prisoners released under the program to more than 6,252.
"March 13 is the last large release on our radar," said Velez.
Gov. Murphy and the Democratic state lawmakers who pushed the legislation say its aim is to keep prisoners in New Jersey safe from coronavirus.
However, the union that represents New Jersey correctional officers, the NJ Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, said there are such low amounts of viral spread in prisons that it makes little sense.
They also say Murphy is releasing prisoners back out onto the streets at a time when crime is soaring. Just last Friday, the new Attorney General, appointed by Murphy, held a press conference to say that crime, in particular auto theft, is skyrocketing across the state, particularly in North Jersey. Car theft is up 22 percent statewide from 2020, and high-end motor vehicle theft is up 127 percent in North Jersey from last year.
"The governor's actions are not making New Jersey's streets, towns, and cities any safer," William Lanoza, the union's president, said Wednesday. "In fact, the murder rate in New Jersey climbed 23 percent in 2021, reaching the highest it has been since 2016. The vast majority of inmates that are being released under this legislation are being bussed to our state's urban centers and thereafter left to themselves."
Also, prison guards and correctional officers were mandated by Murphy to get the coronavirus vaccine, while prison inmates were not. Another police union sued the Murphy administration and the case made it to the state Supreme Court, where a judge sided with the governor.
Spokeswoman Velez said the Dept. of Corrections "has made every effort" to inform New Jersey towns and police departments of Sunday's release. She said the Dept. of Corrections is also "working with reentry partners to ensure individuals have the tools they need to succeed addressing barriers to housing, employment, health access, etc."
Employees from Rutgers University Behavioral and Correctional Health said they will be waiting for the prisoners at their release Sunday with "welcome packets" that will include information about community resources, 24-hour addiction and mental health phone lines, Narcan, Fentanyl strips, hygiene supplies and snacks.
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In 2020 the New Jersey Legislature passed the "Public Health Emergency Credits" legislation, signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy. This allowed state prisons to issue public health emergency "credits" to prisoners, which would give them shorter sentences.
The law allows prisoners to take 122 days off their sentence for each month served in a public health emergency, which Murphy has declared multiple times in the past two years.
These truncated prison sentences do not apply to all prisoners: Anyone convicted of a sex crime deemed "repetitive and compulsive," or anyone convicted of murder or rape (aggravated sex assault) is not eligible for the shortened sentences.
Also, early release only applies to prisoners who are already within 365 days of their scheduled release date, said Liz Velez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.
Let's go!
So far, New Jersey has released 5,400 inmates early in 2020 and 2021 thanks to the new law, she said. Sunday's release of these additional 852 inmates will bring the total number of prisoners released under the program to more than 6,252.
"March 13 is the last large release on our radar," said Velez.
Gov. Murphy and the Democratic state lawmakers who pushed the legislation say its aim is to keep prisoners in New Jersey safe from coronavirus.
However, the union that represents New Jersey correctional officers, the NJ Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, said there are such low amounts of viral spread in prisons that it makes little sense.
They also say Murphy is releasing prisoners back out onto the streets at a time when crime is soaring. Just last Friday, the new Attorney General, appointed by Murphy, held a press conference to say that crime, in particular auto theft, is skyrocketing across the state, particularly in North Jersey. Car theft is up 22 percent statewide from 2020, and high-end motor vehicle theft is up 127 percent in North Jersey from last year.
"The governor's actions are not making New Jersey's streets, towns, and cities any safer," William Lanoza, the union's president, said Wednesday. "In fact, the murder rate in New Jersey climbed 23 percent in 2021, reaching the highest it has been since 2016. The vast majority of inmates that are being released under this legislation are being bussed to our state's urban centers and thereafter left to themselves."
Also, prison guards and correctional officers were mandated by Murphy to get the coronavirus vaccine, while prison inmates were not. Another police union sued the Murphy administration and the case made it to the state Supreme Court, where a judge sided with the governor.
Spokeswoman Velez said the Dept. of Corrections "has made every effort" to inform New Jersey towns and police departments of Sunday's release. She said the Dept. of Corrections is also "working with reentry partners to ensure individuals have the tools they need to succeed addressing barriers to housing, employment, health access, etc."
Employees from Rutgers University Behavioral and Correctional Health said they will be waiting for the prisoners at their release Sunday with "welcome packets" that will include information about community resources, 24-hour addiction and mental health phone lines, Narcan, Fentanyl strips, hygiene supplies and snacks.
Get great local news. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com
