This bill amends current New Jersey law regarding pretrial release decisions, specifically when the defendant is charged with a firearm-related offense. Under existing law, courts must make a pretrial release decision within 48 hours of an eligible defendant's commitment to jail. The new provision allows courts to extend this timeframe when the charge involves the use or possession of a firearm, but the 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 offenses, it must still consider the Pretrial Services Program's risk assessment and recommendations before making a decision. This change aims to ensure that the court has adequate information to assess the risks associated with releasing a defendant charged with a firearm offense, thereby enhancing public safety while balancing the rights of the accused.

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