This bill amends current New Jersey law regarding pretrial release decisions, specifically in cases involving firearm offenses. It allows courts to extend the time frame for making a pretrial release decision beyond the standard 48 hours if the eligible defendant is charged with a crime or offense related to the use or possession of a firearm. The additional time granted to the court is limited to what is reasonably necessary for conducting a firearms ballistic analysis and providing the results to the court.

The bill modifies Section 2 and Section 3 of P.L.2014, c.31, emphasizing that while courts must generally make pretrial release decisions without unnecessary delay, this requirement does not apply in firearm-related cases. The intent of the bill is to ensure that courts have adequate time to assess the risks associated with firearm offenses before making a release determination, thereby enhancing public safety and the integrity of the judicial process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:162-16, 2A:162-17