A New Jersey Woman Claimed Innocence In ‘Shaken Baby’ Death. Now Her Conviction May Get Another Look. Spurred by an Appeal investigation into Michelle Heale’s controversial 2015 case, a law professor is asking New Jersey’s Conviction Review Unit to “correct an injustice” and set Heale free. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Feb 15, 2022
‘It Tears Families Apart’: Lawmakers Nationwide Are Moving to End Mandatory Sentencing Repealing state and federal mandatory minimums will help address the mass incarceration crisis, advocates hope. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Apr 15, 2021
New Jersey Could Force Cuomo’s Hand on Pot Legalization The New York governor has released a plan to legalize marijuana, months after voters in the Garden State approved legalization in November. Advocates say the pressure could have ripple effects regionally. Joshua Vaughn Jan 26, 2021
Families Urge Cuomo to Release Loved Ones from Prison During COVID-19 Pandemic In addition to the releases he has already ordered, the New York governor can grant commutations to free more incarcerated people to protect them from the disease. He has issued only three since the pandemic began. Alana Sivin, Joshua Vaughn Nov 25, 2020
New York Watchdogs Lack Data to Track Judges’ Compliance With Bail Reform Although the new law took effect in January, state data showing how courts are applying it won’t be available until July 2021. And without funding, courts in small towns and villages may never collect the data. Steven Yoder Sep 09, 2020
New Jersey COVID-19 Bill Could Help Reduce The Harshness Of The Criminal System If the bill is signed into law later this month, about 20 percent of the state’s prison population could see their sentences reduced to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, including some people who have served lengthy sentences for violent crimes. Ellison Berryhill Aug 10, 2020
Schools Are Closed, Our Children Are Unravelling, and Our Elected Leaders Are Failing Us Public schools have long needed more funding to keep the bodies and minds of teachers, staff, and students safe. But these are not the investments our elected officials choose to make. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Jul 16, 2020
The Camden Police Department Is Not A Model For Policing In The Post-George Floyd Era The New Jersey department received slavish media praise after it was disbanded and reoriented toward community policing. But behind the reformist mask was an embrace of surveillance and broken windows policing. Brendan McQuade Jun 12, 2020
Obscure New Jersey ‘Treatment’ Facility Has A Higher COVID-19 Death Rate Than Any Prison In The Country The detainees already completed their criminal sentences—but they are prevented from leaving for years. And with the coronavirus spreading, their lives are at risk. Jordan Michael Smith Jun 04, 2020
Hospitalized With COVID-19 and Handcuffed for Days After a man incarcerated in a New Jersey state prison was hospitalized with COVID-19, he said he was handcuffed for 36 hours. The cuffs got tangled in his IV, causing it to rip out, he said. “It was so painful. You have no idea.” Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg May 05, 2020
Coronavirus Is Ready To Explode Inside Fort Dix Federal Prison, Incarcerated People and Their Loved Ones Say One prisoner says a man collapsed while waiting for a temperature check and was sprayed down with disinfectant as he lay on the floor. BOP denied it. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Apr 23, 2020
To Prevent Coronavirus Spread, New Jersey Authorizes Major Jail Release Up to 1,000 people will have their sentences delayed or suspended. Kira Lerner Mar 23, 2020
Sheriff’s Office Profiles New Jersey Student After School Shooting Thousands of Miles Away, Lawsuit Says The student, whose last name is Mohammed, was subject to improper searches based on little evidence, his attorney argues. Roxanna Asgarian Mar 09, 2020
New Jersey Takes On Vestige Of Three-Fifths Clause: Prison Gerrymandering Sarah Lustbader Jan 16, 2020
How Dubious Science Helped Put A New Jersey Woman In Prison For Killing A Baby In Her Care The state said Michelle Heale shook the baby to death, but some experts say her conviction was based on debunked science. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Jan 15, 2020
Protecting Campus Police The New Jersey General Assembly unanimously passed a bill to extend qualified immunity to police officers at private colleges and universities. Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Aug 02, 2019
Drug Treatment Is Reaching More Prisons and Jails Recent legal victories have spurred counties and states to provide medication-assisted treatment to prisoners struggling with substance use. JB Nicholas Jul 31, 2019
Spotlight: Supporting Solitary for Manafort Means Supporting It for Everyone Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 05, 2019
New Jersey Governor-Elect Promising Bold Criminal Justice Reform Agenda Phil Murphy has promised marijuana legalization, end of cash bail and will look at ending minimum mandatory sentences Larry Hannan Nov 09, 2017
New Jersey Governor-Elect Promising Bold Criminal Justice Reform Agenda Phil Murphy has promised marijuana legalization, end of cash bail and will look at ending minimum mandatory sentences Larry Hannan
County attorney drops eight criminal cases due to an illegal search by New Jersey cops The officers’ credibility is under fire. Carimah Townes Aug 28, 2017
