LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 301
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: JULY 17, 2024
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Establishes "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" for certain defendants. |
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Type of Impact: |
One-year cost decrease for participating counties. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Counties; the Judiciary. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
One-Year Duration of Pilot Program |
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Local Cost Decrease |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the participating counties may experience some cost savings from defendants who are released pretrial to participate in the program rather than being held in county jail. The costs for housing inmates in a county jail vary. According to information provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts, the median daily cost to house an inmate in a county jail is $228.
BILL DESCRIPTION
The bill would establish the one-year Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program, to be operated in Camden, Cumberland, Monmouth, and Union counties. The program would offer services and treatment to defendants on pretrial release, with the intent of bettering their health and social well-being in order to improve court appearance rates and enhance short-term and long-term public safety.
As a condition of release established by the court, an eligible defendant would receive a biopsychosocial or other appropriate assessment and participate in an orientation that offers medical, psychological, or psychiatric treatment, as well as responsive services. These services would be provided by, and coordinated through, an approved pretrial community support provider selected by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
The bill also creates a five-member Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Commission. At the program’s conclusion, the commission would make a report to the Governor and Legislature, which would include program data prepared by the pretrial community support provider, and make recommendations on whether the program should continue, or be expanded or modified.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that this bill may result in a decrease in the number of individuals held in pretrial detention in county jails; however, it cannot be known how many individuals will be selected under the program. The costs for housing inmates in a county jail vary. According to information provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts, the median daily cost to house an inmate in a county jail is $228. Certain administrative costs may accrue to the Judiciary under the pilot program, but these should be absorbed by existing staff resources.
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Section: |
Judiciary |
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Analyst: |
Senior Fiscal Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).