Decarceration

The ACLU-NJ has made significant progress in decarcerating the Garden State, having been instrumental in New Jersey’s groundbreaking elimination of cash bail and in advocating for the early release of thousands of people nearing the end of prison sentences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Placeholder image

The human and financial costs of mass incarceration are staggering, and the burden falls disproportionately on people of color and low-income people. New Jersey has the worst Black-white disparity in incarceration of any state in the country, which makes the need for decarceration even more urgent.

The ACLU-NJ has made significant progress in decarcerating the Garden State, having been instrumental in New Jersey’s groundbreaking elimination of cash bail and in advocating for the early release of thousands of people nearing the end of prison sentences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Latest

News & Commentary
People's Agenda

Lawmakers Can Ensure a Fairer New Jersey During Lame Duck

Lame duck is an opportunity for lawmakers to build a fairer, more equitable future for all New Jerseyans. The ACLU-NJ calls on the Legislature to prioritize these key issues and bills ahead of the Sherrill administration.
Press Release
Press Release ACLU of New Jersey

ACLU-NJ Celebrates Third Round of Releases Under The Clemency Project

The ACLU of New Jersey today celebrates Governor Murphy’s announcement of eight commutations under the organization's Clemency Project, an initiative to encourage the use of categorical clemency to examine holistic injustices that have impacted groups of people and consider relief for each person within the identified class.
Issue Areas: Decarceration, Criminal Legal System, Racial & Economic Justice
News & Commentary
gov

Pardons Change Lives – Categorical Clemency Proves New Jersey’s Commitment to Racial Justice and Rehabilitation

Pardons represent a crucial part of clemency work because they center rehabilitation and second chances.
Press Release
Press Release ACLU of New Jersey

ACLU-NJ Celebrates James Comer’s Release After His Groundbreaking Cases Transformed Extreme Life Sentences for Children

After being sentenced to 75 years in prison in 2003 when he was 17 years old, James Comer was released today following his landmark appeals that ultimately eliminated de facto life sentences for children and created opportunities for young people to petition for early release.
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal System, Decarceration
Court Cases: State v. Comer, State v. Comer II
Court Case
Mar 21, 2022

United States v. Lewis

Amicus brief addressing whether prior convictions for possession of substances controlled under state, but not federal, law can serve as enhancements under federal sentencing law.
Court Case
Feb 14, 2022

State v. Mackroy-Davis

Amicus brief addressing the how delays caused by COVID-19 impact the speedy trial provisions of the Criminal Justice Reform Act.
Court Case
Feb 11, 2022

State v. F.E.D.

Amicus brief addressing New Jersey’s compassionate release statute.
Court Case
May 15, 2020

Wragg, et al. v. Ortiz, et al.

Federal habeas class action on behalf of people confined at FCI Fort Dix who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.