Recognizing the harmful impact of mandatory minimum sentencing in New Jersey, particularly on residents of color, Assembly Democrats Nicholas Chiaravalloti, Raj Mukherji, Linda Carter and Shanique Speight sponsor a bill to eliminate mandatory minimums for certain non-violent crimes. The legislation passed the full Assembly Monday, by a vote of 46-20-4.
Courts are required to sentence a person to a minimum length of time in prison if they are convicted of a crime with a pre-determined ‘mandatory minimum,’ regardless of whether a judge believes the sentence is applicable to the specific circumstances of that case. New Jersey has a number of mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes involving firearms, drugs and other forms of misconduct.
“Mandatory minimum sentences may have been intended as a way to help curb crime, but in reality, they have oftentimes done far more harm than good throughout the years,” said Assemblyman Chiaravalloti (D-Hudson). “Judges must be able to take each individual’s circumstances into account when it comes to determining proper disciplinary measures for a crime. It’s long past time for our state to update these sentencing laws.”
Non-violent crimes such as those related to the manufacturing and distribution of narcotics, cargo theft, shoplifting and first-degree hacking would no longer carry a mandatory minimum sentence under the bill (A-5385/S-3456).
“What’s the point of confirming judges if the Legislature cannot trust them to exercise judicial discretion and follow sentencing guidelines?” asked Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson), who serves as Chairman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. “Abundant evidence shows that mandatory minimums are ineffective at reducing crime, cost too much without providing a societal benefit and disproportionately affect black and brown people. Sentences for nonviolent crimes should be determined based on the facts and law applicable to each case without tying the hands of our judges.”
The Legislature included the drug and non-violent crimes recommended by the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission’s 2019 report on the elimination of mandatory minimums. The commission determined these sentences help increase the State’s prison population while ‘curtailing judicial discretion.’
“Mandatory minimums have disproportionately impacted minorities, since prosecutors are far more likely to charge people of color with offenses carrying a mandatory minimum sentence than their white counterparts,” said Assemblywoman Carter (D-Middlesex, Somerset, Union). “Sentencing discretion should lie with judges, whose decisions are more transparent to the public than those made by prosecutors prior to the trial.”
“Mandatory minimums disincentivize good behavior since inmates with these sentences are ineligible for early parole regardless of their attempts at rehabilitation,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex). “The policy also fills our prisons – putting a strain on State resources and keeping families apart for far too long. Eliminating these minimums will benefit residents throughout New Jersey.”
The legislation now heads to the Governor’s desk.