This bill amends current New Jersey law regarding pretrial release decisions, specifically when the defendant is charged with a firearm-related offense. Under the existing law, courts must make a pretrial release decision for eligible defendants within 48 hours of their commitment to jail. The new provision allows courts to take additional time to consider pretrial release or detention in cases involving firearm offenses, but this extension is limited to the time necessary for conducting a firearms ballistic analysis.

The bill emphasizes that while the court can take additional time for firearm-related charges, it still must consider the Pretrial Services Program's risk assessment and recommendations before making a decision. This change aims to ensure that the court has all relevant information before determining the appropriate conditions for pretrial release, thereby enhancing public safety and the integrity of the judicial process.

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