NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Essex County has launched a pilot program that will help determine whether a domestic violence suspect is freed or remains in jail one week after a woman was gunned down.
Starting Thursday, the county assigned one judge to handle all domestic violence cases instead of letting other judges at random. Prosecutors and public defenders also will be exclusively assigned.
The change comes after 28-year-old Tiffany Wilson was gunned down in Newark.
Authorities say 31-year-old Kareem Dawson of Irvington shot the mother of his children. Court records showed a judge twice denied motions to detain Dawson even though he was twice arrested on domestic violence charges against Wilson.