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-volume 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 acknowledges the expanded mandate of the OPD under P.L.2021, c.383, which requires the representation of juvenile defendants, contributing to the growing number of juvenile cases handled by the OPD. The supplemental funding aims to address the anticipated 25-30 percent increase in youth defense caseloads in the upcoming fiscal year, ensuring that adequate legal representation is available for juveniles as they transition back into society. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.