Senator Ronald Rice, Allies Renew Call for Marijuana Expungement and Decriminalization
Black and Latino legislators, civil rights organizers and faith leaders this week will demonstrate their solidarity in a unified call to action behind state veteran Senator Ronald L. Rice (D-28) for passage of legislation to end social injustice in New Jersey. They demand the prioritizing of a package of bills to restore justice to those harmed by a biased and unfair criminal justice system and failed policies.
Rice said that on Thursday at ten a.m. in room 125 at the Statehouse, assembled leaders will call on lawmakers to enact the following legislation to liberate and empower minority residents:
A-5325 Passage of Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
S-3205/A-4498 Enactment of Expungement Bill
S-3701/A-5365 Passage of Youth Transformation Act
S-48 Passage of Juvenile Incarceration and Parole Reform Bill
Participants will include New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Chair Senator Rice and other members such as Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight and Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake; New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus Chair Senator Nellie Pou and other members including Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez; NAACP Statewide Conference President Richard Smith; Salvation and Social Justice Executive Director Reverend Dr. Charles F. Boyer; NJ Institute for Social Justice Director of Criminal Justice Reform Andrea McChristian; Association of Black Women Lawyers Immediate Past President Carolyn Chang;NJ Black Issues Convention Chair Reva Foster; and others.
Standing firmly behind these groups in supporting the expansion of expungement and decriminalization. There is no reason almost 2 million New Jersey residents with arrest records should spend their entire lives paying for past mistakes with lost opportunities and second class status. The state has nothing to lose and only a better workforce to gain. People with clean slates can live up to their full potential and maximize their earning potential. This will reduce recidivism and save the state millions in prison costs. It will also increase tax revenue, reduce crime, improve family life and expand general happiness as people won’t be burdened with a record.