Bergen Attorney Details New Jersey Shift From Cash Bail to Risk Assessments

Bergen County defense attorney Adam M. Lustberg outlined how New Jersey criminal cases proceed, explaining that disorderly persons offenses are handled in municipal court while indictable charges go to Superior Court and require grand-jury review for probable cause. He said pretrial release decisions use risk assessments rather than traditional cash bail, and prosecutors can seek detention hearings in serious cases. An indictment allows a case to advance but does not determine guilt; discovery, pretrial motions and negotiations come later in the process.