Corrado Backs Legislative Effort to Remove Embattled Corrections Commissioner

Urges Assembly Speaker Coughlin to Consider Impeachment Resolution

Senator Kristin Corrado voiced her strong support for a resolution of impeachment to remove Marcus Hicks from his post as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield (R-8) has announced that she will introduce a resolution initiating the constitutional process to remove Hicks for failing to address the abuse of female inmates by corrections officers at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility.

“Time and again the commissioner has been reluctant or incapable of rectifying rampant problems within his department,” said Corrado. “It’s clear he is not up to the task. It is time for him to move on.

“The Governor has refused to take action, even after recent news of criminal charges filed by the attorney general related to the brutal abuse of inmates at the women’s facility in Clinton,” Corrado continued. “It looks like it’s up to the Legislature to do the right thing and show Hicks the door.”

The New Jersey Constitution assigns the Assembly with the sole powers of impeachment with a majority vote of the members. From there, the responsibility shifts to the Senate for a trial presided over by the chief justice of the State Supreme Court. A supermajority of two-thirds of the Senate would be required to remove the commissioner.

“I fully support Asw. Stanfield’s efforts and urge Assembly Speaker Coughlin to give support the impeachment resolution,” said Corrado (R-40). “It is important for New Jersey residents to see the Legislature stand as one to condemn this inhumane abuse of power. The longer Hicks retains his post, the more the department of correction’s image is tarnished.”

Corrections has been under fire for abuses and ineptitude under Hick’s watch, including allegations by federal investigators of constitutional rights violations within the prison system, numerous reports of widespread sexual and physical attacks, and the failure to control the spread of COVID inside facilities, resulting in unnecessary deaths.

“The entire Senate Democrat Caucus signed a letter to Murphy calling for Hicks to be fired,” Corrado said. “Both sides of the aisle in Trenton can agree that there is no excuse for inaction when the reports and evidence are so damning. It is time we do something about it.”

Corrado will introduce a related resolution next week, expressing the sense of the Senate that Marcus Hicks should resign as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections in the event the Assembly does not proceed with the impeachment process.