Skip to Content
Seton Hall University

Law Alumnus Named Commissioner of the NJ Department of Corrections  

Photo of Marcus Hicks

NJ DOC Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, Esq.

Marcus Hicks J.D. '03 has been appointed Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Confirmed by the Senate, he will be sworn in at the Statehouse by Governor Phil Murphy on January 30.

A cabinet level position within the Murphy administration, as Commissioner of the State's second-largest department Hicks is responsible for a budget of nearly $1 billion, supervises 8,000 employees, and oversees approximately 18,000 state-sentenced offenders housed across 12 correctional facilities, county jails, and community halfway houses.

Hicks was named Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections in May, 2018.

"The priorities of the department are rooted in safety for all," said Hicks. "Our mission continues to focus on operating safe, secure and humane correctional facilities through effective treatment of offenders and connecting individuals with resources that support rehabilitation and reentry."

Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Hicks served in many roles throughout the Department since he began in 2007. Most recently, Hicks was the Chief of Staff for the Department, where he managed human resources, policy analysis, research and evaluation, grants management, custody and civilian staff training, as well as the Department's fleet of vehicles. Hicks was also Director of Programs and Community Services, where he had oversight of $64.5 million in the procurement and contracting process of reentry services to approximately 2,800 inmates at 18 Residential Community Release Programs across New Jersey. Additionally, he directed the Office of County Services, which is responsible for conducting annual inspections of the 22 county correctional facilities and 376 municipal detention facilities located throughout the state. Hicks also served as Assistant Division Director of the Office of Transitional Services, the office responsible for providing comprehensive reentry services to inmates upon entry to prison until their reintegration back into the community.

Hicks has dedicated much of his professional career to serving the State of New Jersey. Prior joining the NJDOC, Hicks served as Policy Advisor to former New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine as well as Policy Counsel to former New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey. He also served as Chief of Staff to Seton Hall Law Professor Paula Franzese when she served as Special Ethics Counsel to Governor Codey.

"Marcus Hicks is the perfect choice for this appointment," said Franzese. "A man of integrity and intellect who understands the power of reentry and reintegration to change the trajectory of people's lives and the life of our communities. The State of New Jersey is privileged to have Marcus at the helm of the DOC."

Categories: Alumni

For more information, please contact: