Pretrial Justice Reform in NJ Is Working, New Data Show
ACLU-NJ hails success of bail reform after review of Judiciary’s first-quarter data
Data released by the Judiciary today show drastic reductions in unnecessary detentions since pretrial justice reform went into effect in New Jersey three months ago. The data revealed that of the 10,193 defendants who were seen by judges, 1,262 were detained, 1,095 were released on their own recognizance, and 7,836 were released on different levels of monitoring.
The following statement can be attributed to Alexander Shalom, senior staff attorney of the ACLU of New Jersey:
“The data from the first quarter of New Jersey’s criminal justice reform efforts reveal a process that is working extremely well. Naysayers, especially those with a stake in the old, unfair system, have tried to paint a picture of gloom and doom that simply doesn’t bear out. Statistics, not just anecdotes, demonstrate the success of reforms that have already made New Jersey a national model of a smarter, fairer and safer pretrial justice system.”
The latest data report is available online: http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/pressrel/2017/SenateBudgetCommitteeRemarks_May_4_2017.pdf
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