Professor Laura Cohen, and members of the Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic at Rutgers Law, were instrumental in drafting legislation that was recently passed by the New Jersey legislature.
Rutgers Law School Professor Laura Cohen and the Criminal & Youth Justice Clinic she directs were instrumental in drafting this legislation that reforms key juvenile justice policies, including reducing unjustified incarceration, modernizing and improving the parole process, and eliminating fines that can compromise a young person’s future. The bill now awaits New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's signature.
On January 13, 2020, the New Jersey Legislature approved a landmark bill (S48/A5586) that significantly reforms the law governing juvenile incarceration and parole. The bill was sponsored by Senators Nellie Pou, Shirley Turner, and Troy Singleton and Assembly Members Benjie Wimberly, Annette Quijano, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Valerie Vaineri Huttle, Gordon Johnson, Cleopatra Tucker, and Angela McKnight.