Newark, NJ – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Douglas Manning, a civilly committed individual housed at New Jersey’s Special Treatment Unit, who accused Governor Phil Murphy and corrections officials of unlawfully keeping him confined past his release date.
Manning, who is classified as a sexually violent predator under state law, filed the case pro se in state court before it was removed to federal court. In his amended complaint, Manning alleged that corrections officers and administrators at East Jersey State Prison and the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center violated his rights under the New Jersey Constitution. He claimed that in April 2024 officers informed him his “max date” of imprisonment had expired, yet instead of releasing him, they transferred him to continued civil commitment, subjecting him to mistreatment during transport.
Manning sought relief under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, including compensatory and punitive damages, and filed multiple letters with the court repeating his objections. He also submitted a document labeled a petition for post-conviction relief.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas dismissed the case in its entirety, ruling that Manning’s claims failed to establish a valid cause of action against Governor Murphy or the other identified officials. The court also denied his petition for post-conviction relief, as well as the relief sought in his series of letters.
