N.J. public defender fee collection costs more money than it generates, report finds

New Jersey Policy Perspective published a report urging the state Legislature to pass a law prohibiting municipalities from charging public defender fees. In 2023, Gov. Phil Murphy passed a law eliminating public defender fees for felony cases, but people must pay up to $200 to apply for legal representation in municipal court. The report found that the cost to collect fees exceeds revenue, and the fee disproportionately harms communities of color and places the burden of court debt on families. If the law is passed, there must be state funding that covers municipal public defender costs and increased transparency in public defender access and outcomes, according to the report.

From New Jersey Patch.