TRENTON — Two Republican lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to repeal the automatic early release of nonviolent offenders six months prior to the end of their prison sentence. The move comes after an inmate who'd been freed early was charged soon afterward with shooting a man to death in Jersey City. Gov. Chris Christie this week said he...
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File photos of Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (AP Photo/Mel Evans) and Gov. Chris Christie (Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)TRENTON — Two Republican lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to repeal the automatic early release of nonviolent offenders six months prior to the end of their prison sentence.
The move comes after an inmate who'd been freed early was charged soon afterward with shooting a man to death in Jersey City.
Gov. Chris Christie this week said he would push for legislation to stop the automatic release because he can't end the practice himself.
Christie has criticized Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman for not amending the law she had championed to require that the parole board first approve the early release.
The program was signed into law by former Gov. Jon Corzine on his last day in office.
Assembly Republicans Dave Rible and Bob Schroeder are the sponsors of the repeal measure.
Previous coverage:
• Christie cites recent slaying in push to end early-release program for N.J. prisoners
• Gov. Christie calls for elimination of early-release program for N.J. prisoners
• Gov. Christie's office pushes N.J. assemblywoman to alter early inmate release legislation
