SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2648

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 16, 2024

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2648.

      This bill concerns the provision of services to defendants on pretrial release, as aided by county pretrial release coordinators.

      The bill authorizes counties to appoint a county pretrial release coordinator to evaluate the needs of, and identify services and benefits for, eligible defendants for whom a complaint-warrant has been issued in the county for an initial charge involving an indictable offense or a disorderly persons offense, and pretrial release has been ordered.

The pretrial release coordinator is required to advise each eligible defendant that any services offered are on a voluntary basis and that the defendant is not required to receive the services offered. The pretrial release coordinator is responsible for offering the following assistance to the defendants in accessing services that are deemed appropriate pursuant to the coordinator’s evaluation:

· scheduling and otherwise accessing appropriate treatment, services, and programming during the defendant’s period of pretrial release;

· providing information concerning, and assistance in completing, applications for appropriate State and county public assistance program benefits; 

· providing information concerning available substance use disorder treatment and services including, but not limited to, medication-assisted treatment;

· providing information concerning relevant social services and rehabilitative programs;

· providing information concerning services provided by the State's One-Stop Career Centers;

· providing information concerning insurance eligibility;

· providing information concerning any other treatment, services, and programming deemed appropriate based on the defendant’s evaluation; and

· if appropriate, providing assistance with obtaining a non-driver identification card.

      In addition, the county pretrial release coordinator is required to consult and coordinate with the county board of social services or welfare agency, as appropriate, when providing information or assistance with respect to a benefit or service administered by the board or welfare agency.

      The coordinator is required to: collect and analyze data related to the services provided, demographics for who accepts the services offered, and any crimes committed by a defendant who received services during the defendant’s period of pretrial release; meet annually with community stakeholders to establish best practices in providing services to defendants on pretrial release; identify available county services; and make recommendations for the provision of services to defendants during pretrial release.  The amount of money deemed necessary to support the county pretrial release coordinators is to be annually appropriated through the annual appropriations act.

      The bill would take effect on the first day of the second month next following enactment.

      This bill would implement Recommendation 15 of the Report of the New Jersey Supreme Court Reconvened Joint Committee on Criminal Justice Reform, issued on June 7, 2023.