The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) marked a significant milestone today with Governor Phil Murphy's announcement of six commutations under its Clemency Project. This initiative encourages the use of categorical clemency to address injustices affecting groups of people, providing relief for each individual within these groups. Five individuals are set to be released from state prison following this second round of commutations, alongside 87 pardons granted by the governor. In total, Governor Murphy has awarded clemency to 129 people, surpassing the combined total issued by New Jersey governors from 1994 to December 2024, which stood at 105.
Amol Sinha, ACLU-NJ Executive Director, stated, "With the commutations and pardons announced today, Governor Murphy has granted clemency to more people than all New Jersey governors since 1994 combined, and demonstrated that our state truly values second chances." He further emphasized the significance of several clients being released, highlighting the extreme trial penalties they have faced.
The ACLU-NJ's Clemency Project retains 90 clients who are survivors of domestic violence or who have been impacted by extreme trial penalties, where individuals receive longer sentences for exercising their right to a trial. Among those granted clemency today are Rashon Barkley, Paige Pfefferle, Alberto Salazar, and Michelle Tierney.
Rashon Barkley, who was arrested at 18 and faced a 50-year mandatory minimum sentence for felony murder after rejecting a plea deal, expressed hope, "Giving me the opportunity in this lifetime to redeem myself for what I have done will mean so much to me." Paige Pfefferle, sentenced to 30 years for the death of her high school boyfriend during self-defense, said, "I’m grateful to be granted clemency so I can advocate for those who suffer from mental health issues and women and young girls who are survivors of domestic abuse."
Alberto Salazar, sentenced to 30 years after rejecting a plea deal, acknowledged this opportunity, saying, "I don’t have much time to give back to my family." Michelle Tierney, sentenced to 30 years in a case of self-defense, noted, "I’m grateful that Governor Murphy recognized the injustice of my case and provided me with this opportunity for a second chance."
Rebecca Uwakwe, Director of the Clemency Project, appreciated the governor's efforts stating, "We thank Governor Murphy for continuing to leverage the power of clemency to ensure that New Jersey lives its values of justice for all."
The ACLU-NJ's Clemency Project, launched to address injustices and reunite families and communities, first celebrated the governor's issuance of pardons and commutations in December 2024, leading to the release of three clients. New Jersey has significant racial disparities in its prison population, making the Clemency Project a critical tool for racial justice and addressing mass incarceration. The ACLU-NJ is committed to promoting these efforts for a fairer and more equitable future.
