President Obama Commutes Sentences of 3 NJ Prisoners

President Barack Obama visits the Rutgers School of Law at Rutgers-Newark to speak about criminal justice. Monday November 2, 2015. Newark, NJ,USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Three New Jersey men convicted of drug-related crimes will be released from prison on Dec. 1 after President Barack Obama commuted their sentences on Wednesday. 

In total, Obama commuted the sentences of 214 prisoners across the nation. 

White House counsel Neil Eggleston said the prisoners had been put behind bars “under outdated and duly harsh sentencing laws.”

The three New Jersey residents whose sentences were commuted are: 

– Morris Dabbs of Trenton, sentenced initially to 360 months imprisonment and 10 years supervised release on Feb. 29, 2000 for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. The sentence eventually was reduced to 240 months behind bars on Oct. 6, 2015.

– Albert J. Josey, Jr. of Sayreville,  sentenced Oct. 3, 2007, to 262 months behind bars, five years supervised release and a $1,000 fine for possession of cocaine with an intent to distribute.

–Richard Douglas Warrick of Englewood, sentenced Jan. 10, 1996, to 360 months in prison, five years supervised release and a $500 fine for drug conspiracy and possession of cocaine with plans to sell, distribute or dispense. 

Obama pushes to give inmates second chance

The grants of commutation are the most in one day since at least 1900 and brings the total to 562, more than the previous nine presidents combined, Eggleston said. 

The actions follow efforts by Obama and others, including U.S. Sen.  Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have sought to  overhaul criminal justice laws that require nonviolent drug offenders to be sentenced to prison rather than treatment. In New Jersey, Gov.  Chris Christie has  signed legislation requiring some nonviolent offenders to undergo drug treatment rather than be sentenced to prison.  

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