The three men were among 214 who received shorter prison terms
WASHINGTON -- Three New Jersey men convicted of drug-related crimes will be released from prison on Dec. 1 after President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted their sentences.
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White House counsel Neil Eggleston said the prisoners had been put behind bars "under outdated and duly harsh sentencing laws."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.
"While we continue to work to act on as many clemency applications as possible, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system," Eggleston said. "It is critical that both the House and the Senate continue to work on a bipartisan basis to get a criminal justice reform bill to the president's desk."
Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Booker and both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate has yet to be brought to the floor by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
"If you want 214 reasons why there is a growing bipartisan consensus to reform our broken criminal justice system, look at the list of commutations," Booker said. "These individuals' experiences represent some of the worst instances of a justice system that prioritizes costly confinement over rehabilitation, fairness, and common sense. Unfortunately, it is all too common that nonviolent drug offenders receive extreme sentences that grossly fail to match the severity of their crimes."
Obama visited Newark in November 2015 to highlight efforts to allow those released from prison to successfully return to society.
"We need to make sure Americans who paid their debt to society can earn a second chance," Obama said on the trip.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.