Legislative commission seeks change to expand eligibility for compassionate release from prison

By: Colleen O'Dea, Senior Writer and Projects Editor

Outlets: NJ Spotlight

Published: September 17, 2026

Words: 1,059

Last Updated: 1 day, 14 hours ago

Body Text Preview

More than 5 ½ years ago, New Jersey replaced a medical parole law that had been ineffective in getting seriously ill people out of prison.

But the state’s new compassionate release law has proven little better at facilitating the release of the terminally ill and permanently incapacitated. Since early 2021, more than half of those deemed eligible for release have died before their cases could even be heard.

Now the New Jersey Sentencing and Disposition …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us