Governor Phil Murphy

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Governor Murphy Names Marcus Hicks as Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Correction

05/2/2018

Governor Thanks Commissioner Lanigan for His Years of Public Service to the State of New Jersey

Trenton – Governor Phil Murphy today named Marcus O. Hicks as Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Hicks replaces Gary M. Lanigan upon his retirement, who has led the department since March 2010.

“I want to thank Commissioner Lanigan for his years of service to the State of New Jersey and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” Governor Murphy said. “I also want to welcome Marcus Hicks to the cabinet of the Murphy Administration. Marcus is a talented individual whose experience in government and knowledge of reentry services will be a real asset to our team. I look forward to his vision for the future of the department.”

Marcus Hicks is a senior executive and attorney with over 15 years of public policy and legal experience. He has served two New Jersey Governors and two cabinet-level commissioners and is currently Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Department of Corrections. 

At Corrections, Hicks previously served as Director of Programs and Community Services where he had oversight of $64.5 million in the procurement and contracting process of re-entry services to approximately 2,800 inmates at 18 Residential Community Release Programs (RCRPs) across New Jersey. In addition, 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 is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and received his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey.