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NJ parole reform measure opposed

County prosecutors say bill would jeopardize safety of the public

By: Kathleen Hopkins
Asbury Park Press
US Today Network - New Jersey

..... New Jersey's 21 county prosecutors are in solidarity in their efforts to derail a parole reform bill they say would jeopardize public safety and erode victims' rights by its provisions to reduce sending parolees back to prison.
..... The state's public defender is countering that opposition, saying the ill does nothing to reduce the power of prosecutors to file new criminal charges when warranted against parolees, while it would allow parole officers to focus their efforts on parolees who pose the highest risks.
..... Assembly bill A-62.6 was introduced on December 8, [2025] and its comparison Senate bill S-5000 was introduced a week later.
..... The legislation seeks to reform the state's parole system by, among other things, reducing the types of violations for which a parolee can be sent back to prison, and increasing credits paroles receive toward reducing their parole terms for complying with supervision conditions.
.... The bill drew unanimous oppositions from the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, which issued a statement against it on December 12. [2025]
..... Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, president of the County Prosecutors Association, summarized the group's opposition to the bill.
..... "It undermines public safety, it certainly reduces accountability for parolees, it doesn't take into account victims' rights, and it limits the ability of parole officers to intervene in high-risk situations," Billhimer said.
..... New Jersey's public defender, Jennifer Sellitti, said the criticism is misplaced.
..... By reducing unnecessary re-incarceration for non-criminal technical violations committed by parolees, the bill would allow parole officers to focus on individuals who present the great risk Sellitti said.
..... "This is smart public safety policy and a responsible sue of taxpayers' dollars," Sellitti said.
..... The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey is among criminal legal reform advocate groups supporting the bill for its attempt to ensure that technical parole violations do not automatically lead to parole revocation and re-incarceration.
..... The ACLU says people incarcerated for technical parole violations account for 10% of New Jersey's prison population, but the violations are not the result of new offenses.
..... "Instead they represent the very rel challenges that people face upon reentry: Transpiration issues, unstable housing, changes in work schedules and/or difficulty accessing treatment," the ACLU of New Jersey said in a news release.
..... "Re-incarcerating people for technical parole violations does not make our communities safer. It undermines the progress New Jersey had made at reducing its prison population and penalizes those who are working to rebuild their lives while facing the real challenges of reentry,' said Jim Sullivan, the agency's deputy policy director.
..... "New Jersey must save incarceration for people who pose a real threat to the public and give second chances to those who are working to succeed after release," Sullivan said.
..... The County Prosecutors Association, however, said New Jersey's Parole system is not in need of reform.
..... "First, New Jersey's parole system is recognized as one of the most effective in the nation, which begs the question why reforms are needed at all," the association said in its statement, which was issued by Billhimer.
..... It said New Jersey has a parole revocation of 6%, which is below the national average of 10%.
..... Of those cases where people has been revoked, the vast majority involve of offence that fall under the state's No Early Release Act, which applies to the most violent of offenses, such as homicides, aggravated assaults, sex offenses and robbery, the prosecutor's association said.
..... "These offenders would be the primary beneficiaries of this lenient legislation," the association said.
..... Billhimer was asked what would be the possible worst-case scenario if the bill were to become law.
..... "The worst-case scenario is hat someone gets released on a NERA (No Early Release Act) offense, and we're not able to track them," he responded.
..... The No Early Release Act requires defendants convicted of the most serious, violent offenses to serve 85% of their prison terms before they can be considered for release on parole, and it imposes mandatory periods of parole supervision after release from prison. Currently those convicted of NERA offenses are not entitled to compliance credits that would shorten their parole supervision period.
..... The proposed bill, however, would grant those defendants one day of credit for every six days they have complied with their conditions.
..... For those not convicted of NERA offence, it would increase compliance credits of one day for every six days of compliance to one day for every two days of compliance.
..... "The accumulations of credits could substantially shorten parole terms, even when the underlying offense was a serious NERA offense," the association said.
..... "Finally, these bills do not include meaningful provisions to ensure that victims era min informed, protected, and heard throughout the parole process," the association said.
..... The proposed legislation "would limited the circumstances under which violators can be swiftly returned to custody, including those with a history of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault or intimidation of witnesses," the prospectors said.
..... Sellitti, the pubic defender, said nothing in the legislation would limit prosecutors form filing new criminal charges against offenses who violate charges against offenders who violate conditions of parole supervision for life, which is often imposed on sex offenders.
..... Those violations are not technical violations "and remain fully prosecutable and subject to incarceration," Sellitti said.
..... Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S Santiago "fully supports' the County Prosecutors Association's stance on the legislation, said a statement issued by his office.
..... "It is critical that condition placed on an individual's release are followed," the statement said. "These conditions not only protect the community, they also reinforce accountability by requiring defendants to comply with society's laws and expectations or face additional consequences.
..... Restrictions such as prohibiting association with known gang members, avoiding drugs or alcohol, or staying away form minors in cases involving sexual offenses are not minor technicalities. They are carefully designed safeguards intended to reduce the risk of re-offending.
..... "Releasing dangerous violent or sexual offenders without meaningful conditions to ensure lawful behavior increases the likelihood of future victims,: the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said. "While that outcome is surely not the intent, the bill as currently written would cerate precisely hat risk."
..... Santiago said he looks forward to discussing his concerns with the bill's sponsors and proponents "to work toward crafting language that protects all residents of New Jersey."
..... Billhimer said he planned to meet this week [01/05-09/2026] with Assemblywoman Shabique Speight, the Assembly bill's sponsor, to discuss the prosecutors' concerns with the legislation.
.... Speight, a Democrat representing Belleville and parts of Newark in Essex County, did not immediately respond to telephone and email request for comment.

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