TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation ending a program that lets some inmates leave prison six months early. The governor signed the bill immediately after the state Assembly approved it earlier today. Two homicides have been blamed on early parolees since the program started in January. Of 363 prisoners released under the program, 22 were...
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Gov. Chris Christie signs the Jaden's Law bill, promoting bone marrow transplant awareness in New Jersey, during a press conference at the statehouse last year.TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation ending a program that lets some inmates leave prison six months early.
The governor signed the bill immediately after the state Assembly approved it earlier today.
Two homicides have been blamed on early parolees since the program started in January.
Of 363 prisoners released under the program, 22 were later arrested for new crimes.
Christie added to the momentum for repeal in March when he sent back to lawmakers related legislation that would have broadened the state Parole Board's discretion to review cases.
Christie, a former prosecutor, blamed the bill's primary sponsor, Assembly Democratic Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, for the program's failure.
Watson Coleman says the program provided a way to supervise ex-inmates who soon would have been eligible for release without parole.
Previous coverage:
• Senate budget hearing on N.J. early-release program focuses on policy
• Christie accelerates repeal of controversial early release program for N.J. inmates
• Gov. Christie seeks to halt early release of N.J. inmates with conditional veto
• GOP legislators start efforts to repeal early release program in N.J. prisons
• Two N.J. Republican legislators plan to introduce bill to repeal early inmate release
