This bill amends the current law regarding pretrial release and detention of defendants in New Jersey. It mandates that if a defendant violates any condition of their pretrial release or commits a new crime while on release, the court is required to revoke their release and order their detention pending trial. This change eliminates the previous requirement for the court to find clear and convincing evidence that no monetary bail or conditions of release would ensure the defendant's appearance in court or protect public safety before revoking release.

Additionally, the bill removes the provision that exempted certain low-level marijuana and hashish offenses from being considered violations of pretrial release conditions. As a result, such offenses can now be grounds for revoking pretrial release, aligning with the bill's overall intent to strengthen the conditions under which defendants can remain free before trial. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:162-24