Requires AOC to establish program that collects certain information concerning bail reform.

A4262

ASSEMBLY, No. 4262

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires AOC to establish program that collects
certain information concerning bail reform.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the impact of bail reform and supplementing
Title 2B of the New Jersey Statutes.�

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� In conjunction with
the report issued pursuant to section 17 of P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2B:1-11), the
Administrative Director of the Courts shall establish a program to conduct
research and data analysis regarding the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act,
P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.).

���� b.��� The program shall
conduct research and analysis regarding:

���� (1)�� the number of persons
released from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act;

���� (2)�� whether there was an
increase in the number of persons released from pretrial detention following
the implementation of the act;

���� (3)�� the number of new crimes
committed by persons released from pretrial detention pursuant to the act; and

���� (4)�� whether the rate of
crime has increased or decreased since the implementation of the act, which
shall include an analysis of crime rates in urban, suburban, and rural
communities.

���� c.���� The Administrative
Director of the Courts shall prepare and disseminate annual reports summarizing
the findings and analyses of the information gathered pursuant to this
section.� The reports shall not contain personally identifying information.�

���� d.��� The Administrative
Director of the Courts shall annually prepare and transmit to the Governor and
the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the
reports prepared.� The Administrative Director of the Courts shall publish the
annual report on the website of the New Jersey Courts.�

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.�

STATEMENT

���� The bill requires the
Administrative Director of the Courts to establish a program to conduct
research and data analysis regarding the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform
Act, P.L.2014, c.31 (C.2A:162-15 et al.).� The act reformed the system of bail
and pretrial detention in New Jersey.�

���� The program is required to
conduct research and analysis and issue an annual report regarding: 1) the
number of persons released from pretrial detention following the implementation
of the act; 2) whether there was an increase in the number of persons released
from pretrial detention following the implementation of the act; 3) the number
of new crimes committed by persons released from pretrial detention pursuant to
the act; and 4) whether the rate of crime has increased or decreased since the
implementation of the act, including an analysis of crime rates in urban,
suburban, and rural communities.

���� The Criminal Justice Reform
Act, which took effect on January 1, 2017, required a number of changes to this
State�s criminal justice system, including the elimination of monetary bail as
a requirement for pretrial release for certain eligible defendants. Under the
act, courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a person pending
further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a person who is found to be
a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or presents concerns with
obstructing further criminal proceedings. The sponsor intends for this
legislation to provide information regarding certain changes that may have
occurred following the implementation of the act and changes to the State�s
system of bail and pretrial detention.