Report: 40% in N.J. jails can’t afford bail

A new report shows New Jersey’s county jails are clogged with people who can’t afford to post their often-nominal bail.

The report to be released Monday by the Drug Policy Alliance shows 4 out of 10 county jail inmates have been granted bail but can’t afford to post it.

The report, which analyzes the state’s jail population, finds up to 1,500 people could secure their release pending trial with $2,500 0r less. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the report in advance.

The report concludes that a pretrial system that provides almost no alternatives to monetary bail often results in the detention of low-risk suspects who lack financial resources, or the release of high-risk suspects with better economic circumstances.

The report comes as the Christie administration considers bail reforms.