Former Senator Raymond Lesniak who championed the most significant criminal justice reform measure, Earn Your Way Out, expressed concern that the embattled Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks https://www.insidernj.com/murphy-encounters-unified-cry-outrage-edna-mahan-facility/ is not prepared to implement it, which became effective February 1st.

“Law and Public Safety Chair Senator Linda Greenstein months ago asked Commissioner Hicks to report on its status, but received no response,” explained Lesniak,” I hope the Commissioner has not dropped the ball again,” he said.

Lesniak applauded the legislation sponsored by Senator Sandra Cunningham and Assemblywoman  Sumter to give inmates an opportunity to become better persons when they leave prison than when they went in. The legislation gives inmates a day off their sentence for every sixth day they participate in a reentry plan established when they entered prison, not when they leave. It also grants administrative parole to establish a date certain for their release after finishing the program which includes, education, job training, counseling, group therapy, journaling and community service.

“Earn Your Way Out will change the culture of corrections, reduce our prison population and reduce recidivism,” explained Lesniak, “New Jersey needs an effective Commissioner of Corrections to implement it. I, like the entire New Jersey Senate Democratic delegation, question whether Hicks is up to the task.”