TRENTON, NJ – Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco and Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio criticize the state Legislature for slow action on criminal justice reforms as crime rates continue to rise. Both leaders express concern for the impact of current pre-trial release policies and demand immediate action.
The New Jersey Bail Reform Act was passed under former Governor Chris Christie and championed by his successor Phil Murphy.
“We’ve had years now to examine the pre-trial release policy to see what’s working and what’s not,” said Bucco, representing Morris County. He emphasized the urgency of closing existing loopholes that allow repeat offenders to walk free.
The Legislature has been on break since July, while crime rates remain elevated.
Although the Murphy administration claims a reduction in crime rates, no recent uniform crime reports have been provided for verification.
The last comprehensive report was published in 2016.
“The Democrat-controlled Legislature is on break, but the issues that impact everyday New Jerseyans aren’t,” stated DiMaio, representing Warren County. Both DiMaio and Bucco have called for a special voting session to pass bills aimed at improving public safety, but their calls have yet to be answered.