New Jersey has largely avoided the national tragedy that is unfolding in criminal justice systems around the United States due to pre-trial criminal justice reforms enacted in 2016 and the recent swift actions of Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Acting Director Glenn A. Grant, J.A.D., in taking charge of detention practices around the state.

Since March 22, 2020, following Governor Murphy’s March 9, 2020, joint declaration in Executive Order 103 of a State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency, the New Jersey courts have transitioned to technology-based presentments and hearings, and have temporarily released non-violent county jail inmates being held as a condition of probation for an indictable offense or because of a municipal court violation. The courts have taken up the holding and sanitation status of these and other prisoners on an emergent basis. See https://www.njcourts.gov/notices/2020/n200323a.pdf

Roll-Out of Criminal Justice Reform – a NJ Success