Murphy Signs Inmate Release Order; Reinforces Social Distancing

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Apr 10, 2020

During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Phil Murphy reminded New Jersey residents that despite the holiday weekend, it is imperative that people continue to follow the strict social distancing guidelines currently in place.

“We have to leave the gathering to FaceTime or Zoom,” Murphy said. “This cannot be a weekend to think we can let our foot off the gas. We are not even close.”

This comes with the backdrop of 3,627 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 54,588. Additionally, 233 new deaths reported overnight brings the total number of fatalities in the state to 1,932. New Jersey remains the second most impacted state in the country behind only New York.

Hospitalization Breakdown

As of 10:00pm last night:

• 7,570 hospitalized
• 1,679 in intensive care
• 1,663 on ventilators
• 682 were discharged

Inmate Release

Murphy also signed an executive order today that establishes a process to provide temporary home confinement for certain low-risk incarcerated individuals or grant them parole if they are already eligible, through an expedited process.

Those eligible include: individuals whose age or health status puts them at risk for COVID-19, those who had been denied parole in the last year, and those whose sentences are to expire within the next three months.

Murphy said that only those that do not pose a “public safety threat” will be considered and no individual who has committed a serious crime will be eligible.

He added that individuals under home confinement will be subject to Department of Corrections supervision.

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