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 the number of youth in custody from 277 in 2022 to 339 in April 2024.

The bill highlights the growing demand for juvenile defense services, as mandated by P.L.2021, c.383, which requires the OPD to represent juvenile defendants. This expansion of responsibilities has led to an anticipated 25-30 percent increase in youth defense caseloads in the upcoming fiscal year. The appropriation aims to address these challenges by providing the necessary resources to ensure adequate legal representation for juveniles in New Jersey.