A petty crime shouldn’t carry a life sentence

Many people who committed crimes decades ago and have served their time are trapped in a virtual prison, unaware of how to access expungement.

By: Special to the New Jersey Monitor

Outlets: New Jersey Monitor

Published: January 9, 2026

Words: 730

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By James Gee

Imagine if someone committed a crime when they were in their twenties that required them to serve two years in prison, but due to a system error, they were held until they were 50. For nearly 30 years, this person was in prison despite being eligible for release decades earlier. The second the story broke, there would be a national outcry at the injustice.

Sadly, this isn’t a hypothetical. …

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