Murphy Pardons 11 Veterans and a Vineland Inmate
In honor of Veterans Day, Gov. Phil Murphy announced 11 pardons for New Jersey veterans on November 11, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to rehabilitation and respect for those who have served our nation, according to a media release.
Also, 55-year-old Jamie Wallace of Vineland is one of a group of inmates who are not veterans who received a commutation one day prior to the 11 veterans in this round of clemency. Wallace was convicted of robbery (three counts) and resisting arrest (two counts) in 2009 and was given a life sentence without parole. He will be released from prison and begin a five-year period of parole supervision.
The pardons form the historic fourth round of clemency actions and surpassed 200 cumulative grants of clemency in the past 16 months. With these actions, Murphy has exercised his executive authority to grant clemency to a total of 228 individuals.
Referring to the specific veteran pardons, he said, “Actions taken during a person’s hardest chapter should not define them—especially for those who have sacrificed so much in service of our nation. Today’s pardons are a declaration of who we are: a state that believes in redemption, responsibility, and opportunity.”
“This initiative reflects our values as a state—compassion, justice, and responsibility,” said Lt. Governor Tahesha Way. “By offering clemency to deserving veterans, we’re ensuring that those who served our country are given a true chance to rebuild their lives and continue to contribute to their families and communities.”
In June 2024, Gov. Murphy signed Executive Order No. 362, establishing the state’s first-ever Clemency Advisory Board. The Board reviews applications for pardons and commutations and provides recommendations to the Governor on executive clemency actions. Under the Order, certain categories of applications receive expedited consideration, including non-violent offenses with long post-conviction periods of good conduct, victims of domestic violence who committed crimes in their victimization, or, as in Wallace’s case, sentences reflecting excessive trial penalties.
