This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to the Judiciary for the expansion of the Statewide Pretrial Services Program in New Jersey for the fiscal year 2024. The funding aims to enhance staffing and resources to ensure adequate oversight of defendants on pretrial release, addressing concerns raised by the Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice and various county prosecutors regarding the current limitations in resources for pretrial services. The Pretrial Services Program was established in 2017 under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, and the need for additional funding has been emphasized in recent testimonies and reports.

The bill includes specific legal language that designates the $500,000 as a Direct State Services appropriation for Criminal Courts, specifically earmarked for the Statewide Pretrial Services Program. This funding is intended to support the program's operational needs, including staffing and equipment for electronic monitoring of defendants. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.