New Jersey Lawmakers Reintroduce Substance Abuse Recovery and Accountability Act to Strengthen Public Safety and Improve Supervision Outcomes

TRENTON – Assemblywoman Shanique Speight and Senator Andrew Zwicker today reintroduced the Substance Abuse Recovery and Accountability Act (A5311/S4492) to modernize New Jersey's supervision system and improve outcomes for the state's nearly 16,000 people on parole. The bill:

• Prioritizes treatment over incarceration for addiction. Limits reincarceration when someone on parole relapses and empowers officers to connect people to community-based treatment rather than incarceration.
• Incentivizes and rewards success. Requires parole officers to recommend early discharge after two to five years for fully compliant individuals who pose no public safety risk. Recommendations are accompanied by a legal presumption in favor of discharge.
• Caps incarceration for non-criminal violations. Caps reincarceration for non-criminal violations at 364 days. People may serve that time in county jail instead of state prison, keeping them closer to family and support systems.
• Protects basic rights at revocation. Ensures any arrest warrant for a revocation is reviewed within seven days, guarantees access to the evidence before a hearing, and requires the Parole Board to consider holistic factors when determining the appropriate response to violations.
• Gives officers more tools. Expands the supervision toolkit, including direct referrals to treatment and the authority to recommend early discharge, so officers can hold people accountable without defaulting to incarceration.
• Excludes serious cases. People convicted of sex offenses and those serving terms under the No Early Release Act are not eligible for expedited early discharge.

The legislation builds on momentum from last session, when similar reforms advanced through the Assembly Public Safety Committee and earned bipartisan support. Lawmakers, advocates, and law enforcement have since worked together to refine the bill, balancing public safety with supervision best practices.

"I am pleased to reintroduce this legislation," said Assemblywoman Speight, "following the work that was done during the previous session to understand how we can strengthen the system and prioritize rehabilitation, recovery, and support for those struggling with substance use disorder. I look forward to continued engagement on this issue and advancing this measure to benefit impacted populations."

More than 70% of people in New Jersey prisons struggle with substance use disorder, and many keep fighting that battle when they return home on supervision. Today, a single relapse can mean reincarceration for months at a time, denying people treatment, separating them from jobs, and dislocating them from housing. The sponsors say addiction should be met with support and recovery, not a prison cell.

"Addiction is a health condition, and the research is clear that treatment is much more effective than incarceration," said Senator Zwicker, a scientist by training. "Sending someone back to prison for a relapse just pulls them out of the programming, counseling, and support that keeps them stable. This bill would encourage officers to respond to relapse with treatment while also rewarding those on supervision who stay on track, allowing us to focus our law enforcement resources where they are needed most."

The bill would also create a clearer finish line for people who are following the rules. Under the legislation, parole officers would recommend early discharge after two to five years for fully compliant individuals who pose no public safety risk. Recommendations from officers would be accompanied by a presumption in favor of early discharge. This new model would give people a real incentive to stay on track and frees up officers to focus on higher-risk cases.

"While New Jersey has made strides in reducing its prison population, our state’s criminal legal system is still rooted in excessively punitive policies that cause mass incarceration. Under current laws, someone accused of a non-criminal violation is often forced to sit in a cell for weeks before even seeing the evidence against them. That undermines progress, and it isn't keeping anyone safer," said John Butler, Political Director of the ACLU of New Jersey. "This bill will modernize New Jersey’s parole system by creating a fairer process aligned with the latest standards already adopted by many other states, and even saves taxpayers money at the same time. We’re grateful for the leadership of Asw. Speight and Sen. Zwicker in sponsoring this bill, and we urge the Legislature to swiftly pass it."

"Returning citizens want to succeed, but rebuilding your life after incarceration takes hard work. It means finding and keeping a job, showing up for your family, remaining committed to treatment and recovery, and making positive contributions to your community," said Edwin "Chino" Ortiz, Executive Director of the Returning Citizens Support Group. "When someone puts in that work and demonstrates sustained growth and accountability, the system should recognize that progress and create pathways for them to move forward. This bill does exactly that, and it represents the kind of meaningful change people on parole have been waiting for."

The bill also strengthens basic fairness in revocation proceedings. Today, according to data cited by the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, 99 percent of people accused of non-criminal parole violations are jailed while they wait for a revocation hearing, often for weeks or months. The bill fixes that: it requires timely review when someone is detained on a parole warrant, guarantees access to evidence before a hearing, and gives officers proportionate options like treatment referrals and housing support.

"Across the country, we have seen the same lesson again and again: supervision works best when it is focused, evidence-based, and designed to help people succeed," said Erin Haney, Chief Policy Officer at REFORM Alliance. "States that have adopted smart earned discharge policies, treatment-focused responses, and data-driven best practices in supervision have reduced their caseloads, saved taxpayer dollars, and improved outcomes without compromising safety. New Jersey now has an opportunity to lead."