Scroll Top

Senate clears bill enacting stricter bail rules for some gun offenses

Gavel

Nikita Biryukov | June 16, 2022 | NJ Monitor |

A measure that would change bail rules to make it more likely those charged with firearm offenses will remain in prison while awaiting trial cleared the full Senate Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by State Sens. Joe Cryan (D-Union) and Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), won a unanimous 36-0 vote and is expected to come before the Assembly next week.

The Senate’s move comes as elected officials from cities like Paterson and Newark have urged lawmakers to retool portions of the state’s bail system, which in 2017 was changed to deemphasize cash bail in favor of granting judges greater discretion over who to detain before trial.

“This will focus pretrial detention on those who pose a real threat to public safety, while ensuring a fair trial and protecting the principles of bail reform,” Cryan said.

 

Read the full article here.