Officials say an alleged member of the Bloods street gang is to be released from jail recently.
Omar Perkins, 23 SOUTH PLAINFIELD -- A judge's recent order to release an alleged member of the Bloods street gang is an example of the challenges some officials say the new, statewide bail reform is putting on law enforcement.
Omar Perkins, 23, of South Plainfield, was one of three men arrested earlier this month after authorities raided his residence on Astor Place. More than $50,000 worth of heroin and a 9 mm handgun were seized.
Perkins, whom officials allege is a member of the G-Shine Bloods gang, was charged and held in the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility in North Brunswick.
Despite objections from the prosecutor, a judge on Friday ordered his release because of the new bail reform, according to a statement from the South Plainfield Police Department.
"Despite the efforts of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office to keep Perkins detained in the county jail, a Superior Court judge ordered that Perkins be released," the statement read.
The new system, which went into effect on Jan. 1, seeks to avoid holding people in jail who do not pose a safety risk to the public but lack the money to post bail.
On Friday, a Middlesex County Superior Court judge heard arguments from public defenders and the prosecutor's office over people facing charges during a pretrial detention hearing -- which, under the new system, is required within 48 hours of an arrest, previous reports said.
Some were given supervised release, while others -- like those charged with violent crimes -- were kept in jail.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said in the report that the new bail system was posing a serious challenge to law enforcement and public safety.
"There are good ideas behind bail reform, and we are trying to work out the kinks," he had said. "But in my opinion, there are some inadequate resources being put towards this and law enforcement has an absolute challenge -- and to say a challenge is putting it mildly -- in order to protect the community."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.