Phil Murphy discusses new COVID-19 prison release policy as omicron continues to spread

Phil Murphy discusses new COVID-19 prison release policy as omicron continues to spread

TRENTON, NJ – After freeing more than two thousand convicted criminals in 2020, some who went on to commit new violent crimes after their release, Governor Phil Murphy today said he has no news to report on whether or not he will order the release of more state prisoners as omicron spreads. The governor faced sharp criticism after at least five high-profile murders were committed by inmates freed under his 2020 COVID-19 early release program.

This past summer, Murphy’s prison release body count rose two 5 people killed in three separate incidents, including two double homicides.

Senator Michael Testa said murder charges filed against a former inmate freed by Governor Phil Murphy demonstrate the insanity of the administration’s early release of thousands of dangerous inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A member(s) of the public is now dead as a direct result of the Murphy administration’s dangerous early release policy,” said Testa (R-1). “According to the charges filed by prosecutors, it took just two days for a released inmate to commit murder after his sentence was cut short and he was set free. We warned Governor Murphy that he was putting the public at risk, but he disagreed, with tragic results.”

On Monday, Murphy declined to talk about the prospect

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