Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires AOC to establish program that collects certain information concerning bail reform.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the impact of bail reform and supplementing Title 2B of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. In conjunction with the report issued pursuant to section 17 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-11), the Administrative Director of the Courts shall establish a program to conduct research and data analysis regarding the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act, P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.).
b. The program shall conduct research and analysis regarding:
(1) the number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act;
(2) whether there was an increase in the number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act;
(3) the number of new crimes committed by persons released from pretrial detention pursuant to the act; and
(4) whether the rate of crime has increased or decreased since the implementation of the act, which shall include an analysis of crime rates in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
c. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall prepare and disseminate annual reports summarizing the findings and analyses of the information gathered pursuant to this section. The reports shall not contain personally identifying information.
d. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall annually prepare and transmit to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the reports prepared. The Administrative Director of the Courts shall publish the annual report on the website of the New Jersey Courts.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill requires the Administrative Director of the Courts to establish a program to conduct research and data analysis regarding the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act, P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.). The act reformed the system of bail and pretrial detention in New Jersey.
The program is required to conduct research and analysis and issue an annual report regarding: 1) the number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act; 2) whether there was an increase in the number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act; 3) the number of new crimes committed by persons released from pretrial detention pursuant to the act; and 4) whether the rate of crime has increased or decreased since the implementation of the act, including an analysis of crime rates in urban, suburban, and rural communities.
The Criminal Justice Reform Act, which took effect on January 1, 2017, required a number of changes to this State’s criminal justice system, including the elimination of monetary bail as a requirement for pretrial release for certain eligible defendants. Under the act, courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a person pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a person who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or presents concerns with obstructing further criminal proceedings. The sponsor intends for this legislation to provide information regarding certain changes that may have occurred following the implementation of the act and changes to the State’s system of bail and pretrial detention.