This bill amends current New Jersey law regarding pretrial release decisions, specifically allowing courts to take additional time to consider pretrial release or detention 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. However, the new provision permits courts to extend this timeframe if the defendant is charged with any crime or offense involving the use or possession of a firearm. The extension is limited to the time necessary for conducting a firearms ballistic analysis and providing the results to the court.

The bill emphasizes the importance of thorough risk assessments and recommendations from the Pretrial Services Program before making release decisions. It maintains the requirement for courts to consider various factors, including the safety of the community and the likelihood of the defendant appearing in court. The changes aim to enhance public safety by allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of cases involving firearms, while still ensuring that defendants' rights are respected in the pretrial process.

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