This bill outlines additional responsibilities for the interbranch criminal and juvenile justice council. The council is tasked with investigating and proposing legislation for three main initiatives: the development of a statewide model for pretrial services that counties can adopt and potentially receive reimbursement for, the establishment of a modern electronic system for case tracking within the courts, and the creation of offices of victim and witness advocates within county attorneys' offices.

Specifically, the bill amends RSA 651-E:3 by adding new paragraphs that detail these duties. Paragraph V focuses on the pretrial services model, including funding sources and service criteria for county reimbursement. Paragraph VI addresses the need for a comprehensive electronic case tracking system with varying access levels for entities such as law enforcement, defense counsel, bail commissioners, and the public. Paragraph VII calls for the establishment of victim and witness advocate offices, modeled after the department of justice's office of victim/witness assistance, to support victims and witnesses involved in criminal cases. The bill also requires the council to recommend funding sources for these advocate offices, such as criminal fines. The act is effective as of July 12, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 597:2
As Amended by the House: 651-E:3, 651-E:4
As Amended by the Senate: 651-E:3
Version adopted by both bodies: 651-E:3