A revamped bail system has made New Jersey’s criminal justice more humane and equitable, while substantially lowering the jail population by cutting the amount of time low-risk defendants spend behind bars while awaiting trial, according to a report by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
The Criminal Justice Reform 2018 Annual Report credits bail changes for ensuring only violent offenders were being held in jail pending trial and for helping to stabilize no-show and recidivism rates with defendants no more likely to commit a new offense or fail to show up for a court appearance than defendants released under the prior system of monetary bail.
