This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $750,000 for the fiscal year 2024 to the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) specifically for its Trial Services to Indigents program. The funding is intended to support the hiring of eight additional attorneys who will focus on juvenile post-dispositional work and help reduce juvenile caseloads in high-demand areas, particularly Essex and Atlantic counties. The OPD has reported a significant increase in youth custodial sentences and the length of stay for juveniles, with a notable rise in defense caseloads expected in the upcoming fiscal year.

The bill amends the current appropriations act by adding this specific funding allocation under the Direct State Services category for Trial Services to Indigents. The OPD's expanded mandate, as established by P.L.2021, c.383, requires the representation of juvenile defendants, contributing to the increased number of juvenile cases handled by the OPD. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.