This bill establishes a framework for the rehabilitative release of certain incarcerated individuals in New Jersey. The Department of Corrections (DOC) is mandated to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Rehabilitative Release to individuals who have served at least 20 years in custody and are at least 60 years old, or, for those convicted of murder, who have served at least 30 years and are at least 62 years old. The DOC must notify the State Parole Board 60 days prior to issuing the certificate, and individuals who receive it may petition the court for release, with representation provided by the Office of the Public Defender unless they choose to retain private counsel.

The bill outlines the process for hearings on petitions for rehabilitative release, which will occur in the Superior Court of the county where the individual was originally sentenced. It includes provisions for notifying victims and their families about the petition and allowing them to submit statements or testify at the hearing. The court may modify, reduce, or suspend a sentence if it finds that the individual poses no danger to the community, shows readiness for reentry, and that justice warrants such a modification. Additionally, any individual granted a modified sentence will be subject to a five-year term of parole supervision, and the court's order will not be final for 10 days to allow for potential appeals by the prosecution.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 30:4-123.54