Bill > A5427

Introduced Session

This bill eliminates the presumption of pretrial release for defendants charged with a sex offense, if the alleged victim of the offense is a minor. Under P.L.2014, c.31, also known as the Criminal Justice Reform Law, criminal courts are authorized to order the pretrial release of a defendant pending further proceedings, or order pretrial detention of a defendant who is found to be a flight risk, a danger to another or the community, or likely to obstruct further criminal proceedings. Currently, the Criminal Justice Reform Law establishes a presumption for some form of pretrial release, except with respect to an eligible defendant charged with: murder; a crime for which the eligible defendant would be subject to an ordinary or extended term of life imprisonment; theft of or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle or receiving stolen property where the property involved is a motor vehicle under certain circumstances; or a crime under any statute of the United States, this State, or any other state that is substantially equivalent. Under the bill, the presumption of pretrial release also would not apply to an eligible defendant charged with a sex offense, as defined under Megan's Law pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7-2), if the alleged victim is under 18 years of age.

Committee Categories

Alixon Collazos-Gill (D)*,  Wayne DeAngelo (D)*,  Heather Simmons (D)*, 

Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee (on 05/08/2025)

Official Document