Under New Jersey's new bail reform law, keeping criminal suspects behind bars in Monmouth County is far from a slam dunk.

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Data from the office of Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni reveals that a bit more than half the arrestees in Monmouth County in the first three quarters of 2017 were released, many over the objections of prosecutors.

That is one of the circumstances that bring context to the Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act, now entering its tenth month.

Monetary bail has been replaced by a multiple-point assessment of a defendant's risk of flight, and threat to the community. The law also grants defendants the right to speedy trials, instead of languishing in holding cells or jails.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni's staff is tracking arrests, summonses, and detentions, and circumstances affecting them, on a quarterly basis.

As of the end of September, 3,315 complaint warrants were issued for 2,383 defendants. Another 3,661 charges were processed through summonses instead of complaint warrants.

Prosecutors sought detention for 489 defendants. Judges ordered 225 to be held. One-hundred-ninety-eight defendants were released to await trial, over prosecutors' objections. Thirty were released after their motions to detain were withdrawn.

There are 55 defendants with violations that might result in pre-trial detention, or in stiffer conditions for release.

A full-year statistical analysis is expected in early January.

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