This bill amends the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) process in New Jersey to enhance the consideration of firearms as a public safety risk during pretrial risk assessments. Specifically, it requires that the approved risk assessment instrument used by the Pretrial Services Program includes any charges related to the use or possession of firearms as relevant risk factors. This change aims to address concerns raised by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI) regarding the increasing prevalence of illegal firearms, including ghost guns and modified weapons, which pose significant threats to public safety. The bill emphasizes that reckless discharges of firearms in public should be classified as violent offenses, reflecting the inherent dangers they present to bystanders.

The bill also seeks to prompt the Judiciary to reassess the PSA risk factors to better account for the evolving nature of firearm-related crimes and their associated risks. By incorporating firearm-related offenses into the risk assessment, the legislation aims to ensure that pretrial release decisions more accurately reflect the potential danger posed by individuals charged with such offenses. This legislative effort is a response to SCI's findings that current assessments do not adequately capture the risks associated with firearms, particularly in light of recent trends in illegal firearm use in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:162-20, 2A:162-25