Twenty lawmakers sign onto Stanfield’s resolution of impeachments against Commissioner Hicks

TRENTON – A group of 20 Republicans and Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors to Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield’s articles of impeachment against Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks.

“Momentum is building behind the impeachment of Commissioner Hicks. People realize that he is not going to step down on his own, and the resolutions put forth by the legislature calling for Hicks to resign are not working. We must force Governor Murphy’s hand with an actionable item like impeachment,” Stanfield said.

“A new report released yesterday by the state shows Edna Mahan being flooded with complaints in recent months; far outpacing any other prison. The situation is not getting better. Women are suffering, and they need us to act,” Stanfield continued.

The resolution, AR220, states Commissioner Hicks failed to take reasonable measures to protect inmates from sexual abuse, considered cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and that he is responsible for violating the inmates’ civil rights and the public’s trust, among other offenses.

A US Department of Justice report detailed years of sexual and physical assault by guards at the facility leading to criminal convictions. Since the report was released in April, the situation has only gotten worse. Thirty-one guards were suspended last month after an incident involving a woman getting handcuffed in a cell and severely beaten.

“How is it acceptable that the Governor’s only answer to this is to launch another investigation? What more proof do we need? Nearly every New Jersey lawmaker has called for Hicks’ resignation, so if they are true to their word, we have the power to make it happen,” Stanfield said.

The group of legislators signed onto impeachment include, Valerie Vainieri Hutte, Nancy Munoz, Jon Bramnick, Cleopatra Tucker, Britnee Timberlake, Ryan Peters, Parker Space, Harold Wirths, BettyLou DeCroce, Holly Schepisi, Aura Dunn, Serena DiMaso, DiAnne Gove, Brian Bergen, Edward Thomson, Gerard Scharfenberger, Christopher DePhillips, Erik Peterson and John DiMaio.