“I have long been opposed to mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses and did not vote to enact them when they were imposed in 2007. I am extremely disappointed in Governor Murphy’s actions, which not only fail to fully address racial disparities in our criminal justice system but also jeopardize eligibility for $20 billion in potential federal funding during a time when our state is still reeling from the pandemic. New Jersey is lagging behind the rest of the nation in criminal justice reform, as evidenced by the fact that 48 other states do not impose mandatory minimums for official misconduct and similar offenses, which New Jersey will still do despite the directive from the Attorney General which may not even pass legal muster. This fight for justice is not over and I will be working with my Senate and Assembly colleagues and advocates to remove mandatory minimums for all nonviolent offenses by supporting newly filed legislation. Governor Murphy and Attorney General Grewal should be held accountable for circumventing the legislature and denying justice to people facing unjust prosecutions by essentially treating public employees as second class citizens. Sentencing power must be entrusted to judges, not to politicians.” – Nicholas J. Sacco, Senator LD-32