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

Press Release
Placeholder image

ACLU-NJ Celebrates Second Round of Releases Under its Clemency Project

Today’s announcement marks 129 people granted clemency under Governor Murphy.
Issue Areas: Decarceration, Criminal Legal System
Press Release
Placeholder image

ACLU-NJ Responds to Gov. Murphy’s 2025 State of the State Address

New Jersey has a powerful history of crafting ambitious public policy to build a better future. We will continue to work with Gov. Murphy and lawmakers at every opportunity to do exactly that.
Issue Areas: Racial & Economic Justice, Immigrants' Rights, Decarceration, Abortion Access
News & Commentary
CLE Webinar 12.18.24 Event graphic

Championing Clemency in New Jersey: A Briefing for Attorneys

Our virtual panel discussion, “Clemency Briefing for Attorneys,” unpacked New Jersey's clemency process, discussed the opportunities created under Executive Order 362, and highlighted best practices for petitioning on behalf of clients who are overdue for relief.
Press Release
Placeholder image

ACLU-NJ Celebrates First Releases from State Prison Under its Clemency Project

The ACLU of New Jersey celebrates the announced release of three people from state prison as the first group to be granted commutations by Governor Murphy under the organization's Clemency Project, an initiative to encourage the use of categorical clemency for the release of groups of people.
Issue Areas: Decarceration, Criminal Legal System, Prisons & Jails
Campaign
Aug 2025

The Clemency Project

The ACLU of New Jersey has launched The Clemency Project as an integral part of a larger decarcerative vision that centers racial and social justice – and reimagines the criminal legal system as we know it.
Campaign
Aug 2025

Pursuing the End of Mass Incarceration in New Jersey

How decarceration can embody liberty and justice for all.
Campaign
Aug 2025

COVID-19: What It Means For Your Rights

We at the ACLU of New Jersey are monitoring to make sure that government actions reflect public health and scientific evidence – not fear. And we’re monitoring to make sure that our rights – and in particular, the rights of the most vulnerable – remain intact.