Official Site of The State of New Jersey

TRENTON – January 14, 2025 – The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJOPD) today unveiled a new infographic that highlights the critical injustices individuals face when incarcerated for technical parole violations—offenses related to housing, reporting, program participation, and substance use, among others.

For years, the NJOPD has been at the forefront of tracking and shedding light on the profound impact technical parole violations have had on individuals and their communities. Since the release of its groundbreaking September 24, 2021 Parole Report and then its February 2, 2024 update, the agency has consistently worked to raise awareness about the financial, social, and systemic costs of incarcerating people for minor violations. These reports have called for systemic reform to address this pressing issue.

“The data in our reports show that incarcerating individuals for technicalities such as administrative errors, missed meetings, or violations of parole conditions unrelated to new criminal behavior does nothing to enhance public safety. Instead, it contributes to overburdened prison systems and diverts valuable resources away from those who genuinely need support for rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” said Public Defender Sellitti. “NJOPD is committed to collaborating with policymakers, stakeholders, and the community to address this issue and bring about long-overdue changes to our parole system.”

The newly launched infographic distills data from October 2023 to October 2024 and presents a compelling case for reform, including the following points:

• 75% of the 784 individuals represented by NJOPD in parole revocation cases were Black or Hispanic.
• 99% of people facing parole revocation were incarcerated, often for months, even if only accused of technical violations.
• 67% of individuals faced parole revocation due to technical violations, not for new criminal offenses.

“The findings in this infographic are deeply troubling and underscore the critical need for reform in how we approach parole violations,” said Assistant Public Defender Joseph J. Russo. “These minor violations do not pose a threat to public safety, as they typically involve conditions or behaviors that are not criminal in nature and do not indicate a risk to others. We must shift away from taking punitive measures and focus on rebuilding lives, not tearing them down.”

This initiative aligns with the recent announcement by Governor Phil Murphy, who proposed systemic changes to prevent technical parole violators from being incarcerated. Governor Murphy’s leadership reflects a growing consensus on the need for criminal justice reform that emphasizes rehabilitation and second changes.

Download the complete infographic here.