New Jersey bail overhaul survives first major challenge

A new law meant to reform New Jersey’s bail system survived its first major legal challenge on Wednesday, a victory for Gov. Chris Christie that safeguards, at least for now, his most ambitious effort on criminal justice.

Christie, state lawmakers and the chief justice of the state Supreme Court all pushed for sweeping revisions to New Jersey’s bail laws. Experts say that since those changes were implemented Jan. 1, New Jersey has moved to the forefront of criminal-justice reform nationwide.

Courts previously granted or denied bail based on defendants’ ability to pay, a system that was criticized for being unfair to the poor. Judges now conduct individual risk assessments before deciding whether to hold or release defendants before trial. The new law also guarantees defendants a trial within two years, with some exceptions.

Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the state Supreme Court, who was a driving force behind the changes, often cites a 2012 study that found one in eight inmates in New Jersey's county jails were held there because they could not pay $2,500 or less in bail. Those defendants often received less favorable plea deals or longer sentences, he added.

Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2017/02/15/nj-bail-overhaul-survives-first-major-challenge/97962010/