TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey’s high court has made changes to the state’s new bail rules to make it more likely that people accused of gun crimes and repeat offenders stay in jail until their trial.
The state Supreme Court announced the changes on Thursday amid criticism raised over the major overhaul of the state’s bail system that took effect Jan. 1.
New Jersey’s attorney general on Wednesday issued tougher guidelines for prosecutors to seek detention for defendants accused of serious gun crimes and those with a history as a sex offender or on parole or pre-trial release for another crime.
The reforms were enacted as a way to keep violent offenders detained until trial while providing poor, low-level defendants the opportunity to be freed.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.