Rules of Court · Part 7 · New Jersey

R. 7:4-2 New Jersey Rules of Court, R. 7:4-2: Authority to Set Bail or Conditions of Pretrial Release, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked

Authority to Set Bail or Conditions of Pretrial Release

the rule, verbatim; Code adds line numbers, links on every cross-reference and the list of rules that cite this one

(a) Authority to Set Initial Conditions of Pretrial Release on Complaint-Warrants (CDR-2) – Disorderly Persons Offenses. Initial conditions of pretrial release on an initial disorderly persons charge on a Complaint-Warrant (CDR-2) may be set by a judge designated by the Chief Justice, pursuant to R. 3:26 as part of a first appearance at a centralized location, pursuant to R. 3:4-2.

(b) Authority to Set Bail for Bench Warrants and All Other Matters Within the Jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. Setting bail for bench warrants or for a Complaint-Warrant (CDR-2) in which the most serious charge is a petty disorderly persons offense or other non-disorderly persons offense within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court may be done by a judge sitting regularly in or as acting or temporary judge of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed, or by a vicinage Presiding Judge of the Municipal Courts, or as authorized by any other rule of court. In the absence of the judge, and to the extent consistent with N.J.S.A. 2B:12-21 and R. 1:41- 3(f), a duly authorized municipal court administrator or deputy court administrator may set bail on defendants issued a bench warrant or a Complaint-Warrant (CDR-2) in which the most serious charge is a petty disorderly persons offense or other non-disorderly persons offense within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. The authority of the municipal court administrator, deputy court administrator or other authorized persons shall, however, be exercised only in accordance with bail schedules promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the municipal court judge.

(c) Authority to Take a Recognizance. Any judge who has set bail and/or conditions of pretrial release may designate the taking of the recognizance by the municipal court administrator or any other person authorized by law to take recognizances, other than the law enforcement arresting officer.

(d) Revisions of Bail or Conditions of Pretrial Release. A municipal court judge may modify bail or any other condition of pretrial release on any non-indictable offense at any time during the course of the municipal court proceedings, consistent with R. 7:4-9, except as provided by law.

Note: Source-Paragraph (a): R. (1969) 7:5-3; paragraph (b): R. (1969) 7:5-1, 3:26-2(c). Adopted October 6, 1997 to be effective February 1, 1998; paragraphs (a) and (b) amended July 10, 1998, to be effective September 1, 1998; caption amended, paragraph (a) caption and text amended and portion redesignated as paragraphs (b) and (c), paragraph (b) redesignated and amended as paragraph (d) August 8, 2016 to be effective January 1, 2017; paragraphs (a) and (b) captions and text amended November 14, 2016 effective January 1, 2017.

Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.

rule 7:4-2 "Authority to Set Bail or Conditions of Pretrial Release" {
(a) Authority to Set Initial Conditions of Pretrial Release on Complaint-Warrants (CDR-2) – Disorderly Persons Offenses. Initial conditions of pretrial release on an initial disorderly persons charge on a Complaint-Warrant (CDR-2) may be set by a judge designated by the Chief Justice, pursuant to R. 3:26 as part of a first appearance at a centralized location, pursuant to R. 3:4-2.
(b) Authority to Set Bail for Bench Warrants and All Other Matters Within the Jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. Setting bail for bench warrants or for a Complaint-Warrant (CDR-2) in which the most serious charge is a petty disorderly persons offense or other non-disorderly persons offense within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court may be done by a judge sitting regularly in or as acting or temporary judge of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed, or by a vicinage Presiding Judge of the Municipal Courts, or as authorized by any other rule of court. In the absence of the judge, and to the extent consistent with N.J.S.A. 2B:12-21 and R. 1:41- 3(f), a duly authorized municipal court administrator or deputy court administrator may set bail on defendants issued a bench warrant or a Complaint-Warrant (CDR-2) in which the most serious charge is a petty disorderly persons offense or other non-disorderly persons offense within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. The authority of the municipal court administrator, deputy court administrator or other authorized persons shall, however, be exercised only in accordance with bail schedules promulgated by the Administrative Office of the Courts or the municipal court judge.
(c) Authority to Take a Recognizance. Any judge who has set bail and/or conditions of pretrial release may designate the taking of the recognizance by the municipal court administrator or any other person authorized by law to take recognizances, other than the law enforcement arresting officer.
(d) Revisions of Bail or Conditions of Pretrial Release. A municipal court judge may modify bail or any other condition of pretrial release on any non-indictable offense at any time during the course of the municipal court proceedings, consistent with R. 7:4-9, except as provided by law.
Note: Source-Paragraph (a): R. (1969) 7:5-3; paragraph (b): R. (1969) 7:5-1, 3:26-2(c). Adopted October 6, 1997 to be effective February 1, 1998; paragraphs (a) and (b) amended July 10, 1998, to be effective September 1, 1998; caption amended, paragraph (a) caption and text amended and portion redesignated as paragraphs (b) and (c), paragraph (b) redesignated and amended as paragraph (d) August 8, 2016 to be effective January 1, 2017; paragraphs (a) and (b) captions and text amended November 14, 2016 effective January 1, 2017.
}
referenced_by: 7:7-11
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-09-22; corpus harvested 2026-09-02

← R. 7:4-1 · R. 7:4-3 → · chapter 7:4 · all rules

The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.