On Jan. 19, 2022, the Appellate Division decided an issue of first impression related to fairness of the process by which parole decisions are made in this state. While the case, State v. William Thomas, concerns a juvenile offender, it shines a negative light on the parole process used for all offenders and should prompt consideration of whether parole should be significantly reformed or even eliminated in New Jersey, as it has been in the federal system.

William Thomas, and his 19-year-old cousin committed a horrendous crime 40 years ago when Thomas was 17 years old, killing two teenage acquaintances. At the time, both defendants had been drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and using methamphetamines. Thomas was waived to adult court and in February 1982, he entered a non vult plea, effectively a guilty plea, to two counts of knowing murder and possession of a weapon (a tire iron), and was sentenced to concurrent life sentences with no parole disqualifiers, making him eligible for parole 13 years later in May 1995. Thomas' cousin who cooperated with law enforcement and pleaded guilty to one murder was sentenced to one 10-year term, and was released long ago.