Second Changes, Jersey Style
April is Second Chance Month, an idea that we take seriously in my home state of New Jersey. On Tuesday, April 8th, NJ Governor Phil Murphy announced his second round of clemency grants under his Clemency Initiative. Ninety-three people received clemency yesterday — and 93 lives were forever changed. Along with the other members of the Clemency […]
Justice Heros
Dear Friends, I know we are all reeling from the daily barrage of bad news, designed to distract and overwhelm us from the devastation that this administration is causing, both here and abroad. But many of you reading this refuse to be cowed. You are engaged in acts of daily resistance. Maybe you’ve called your representatives. Maybe you […]
Clemency, New Podcast Episodes and LA Fires
Dear Friends, Last year ended on an impossibly high note, when New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the first of his clemency grants. He commuted the prison terms of three women who had served decades behind bars and are now finally home with their families and communities. He also pardoned 33 others. I am deeply honored to […]
Take Action for Justice
Dear Friends, This year, instead of my annual criminal justice wish list, I’ve made a criminal justice action plan. Join me in donating, signing petitions, or sending books and holiday cards. There are many ways to make a difference. 1. Support the Innocent and Exonerated Far too many innocent people are released from prison with nothing […]
Election Musings and Presidential Pardon Power
Dear Friends, Tuesday is election day. You know what’s at stake. Democracy, decency, free speech, censorship, fairness, women’s reproductive rights, health care, freedom, historical accuracy — it’s all on the line. So is justice. Consider the death penalty. Trump is aggressively pro-death penalty. When he was president, he revived the federal death penalty after a […]
The Death Penalty is the Opposite of a Second Chance
Dear Friends, Last week, in the span of seven days, five men in five states were executed. It was the worst state killing spree in over thirty years. It was a brutal, blood-soaked week that raised issues of what accountability in our criminal legal system should look like. I guarantee you; it doesn’t need to […]
Introducing the Just Justice Podcast
Just Justice takes a deep dive into the world of second chances for people in the criminal legal system.
Governor’s Clemency Initiative and More Second Chances
I am truly humbled and honored to share that the Governor has appointed me to his Clemency Advisory Board, which will review clemency petitions and provide guidance to the Governor in support of his Clemency Initiative.
Second Chances and Things to Come
Dear Friends, You Are Invited to a Very Special Conference You are invited to join me at the first-ever Second Chance Conference NJ to be held at Montclair State University on Monday June 3rd. We’ll be discussing “Second Look” laws that allow senior citizens to apply for early release from prison, hearing from experts and […]
Second Chance Month
Dear Friends, Spring is here, and the flowers are doing their best to bloom despite the torrential rains. After a long winter, I love to see the yellow daffodils and pink tulips poking through the wet ground; they serve as the perfect reminder that we always have the chance to begin again. Perhaps that’s why […]