Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) is using this Juneteenth holiday to seek out criminal justice reform. The governor issued an executive order to create a new clemency program, which will allow some young and nonviolent offenders, along with domestic violence victims and others, to apply to leave prison early.
The program aims to address mass incarceration, racial injustice, and parole rules that make it difficult for people to get a new start when they leave prison, supporters said. A clemency board will review petitions and make recommendations to Murphy.
“As we celebrate Juneteenth and reflect on our nation’s ongoing journey toward racial justice for Black and Brown Americans, I am proud to sign this Executive Order to help address inequities and unfairness in our system of justice in New Jersey,” Murphy said in a statement.
“This new clemency initiative is a cornerstone of our Administration’s efforts to make New Jersey the State of Second Chances. Today, we pledge to take a responsible and equity-driven approach to pardons and commutations that will prioritize the most compelling cases,” the Democratic governor added.
Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, who is black, also weighed in.
“In the spirit of Juneteenth, today we take another step forward in the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America,” Way said. “Too many people have been failed by our criminal justice system. The signing of this Executive Order provides second chances for our society and those who receive clemency. I am proud to see our state build upon our efforts for a progressive criminal justice system that truly ensures justice for all.”
State Democrats and civil rights organizations lauded Murphy’s decision, while state Republicans stayed largely silent.
“Clemency is about more than mercy — it can be a tool to end mass incarceration,” American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey Executive Director Amol Sinha said. “We built The Clemency Project to ensure we don’t leave any stone unturned in the pursuit of justice. I am grateful to Governor Murphy for embracing categorical clemency as a way to address injustices in the criminal legal system. We look forward to seeing the Governor fully exercise his executive power by pardoning and commuting the sentences of scores of people before the end of his term, demonstrating that New Jersey prioritizes people over punishment.”
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Rapper Meek Mill and social media influencer Wallo267 joined Murphy in Newark as he announced the initiative.
The United States has over a million people in state prisons in 2024 and more than 750,000 in local jails along with federal prisons and jails.
