LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 5169
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
DATED: JULY 14, 2023
SUMMARY
Synopsis: Establishes 14 years old as minimum age for juvenile delinquency.
Type of Impact: Annual State cost decrease.
Agencies Affected: Juvenile Justice Commission; the Judiciary.
Office of Legislative Services Estimate
Fiscal Impact Annual
State Cost Decrease Indeterminate
 The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill may result in a modest annual cost
savings to the State. The Judiciary considers a range of factors in adjudicating a juvenile
delinquent and subsequently ordering, for example, diversion, probation, community service,
secure confinement, or incarceration. The OLS lacks available data on how many juveniles
will no longer be adjudicated delinquent as a result of raising the age of delinquency set forth
by the provisions of the bill. However, according to State data there is currently only a single
juvenile in eighth grade committed to a juvenile facility; and only a single seventh grader in
probation services. Therefore, the OLS finds that the fiscal impact to the State would be
marginal.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill sets the minimum age at which a juvenile can be adjudicated delinquent at 14 years
or older.
Under the New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice, “delinquency” is defined as the commission
of an act by a juvenile, which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a crime of the first
through fourth degree; a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense; or a
violation of any other penal statute, ordinance, or regulation, with certain exceptions. The
code currently defines a “juvenile” as a person under 18 years of age. This bill changes the
Office of Legislative Services Legislative Budget and Finance Office
State House Annex Phone (609) 847-3105
P.O. Box 068 Fax (609) 777-2442
Trenton, New Jersey 08625 www.njleg.state.nj.us
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definition of delinquency in the code to establish the minimum age at which a juvenile could
be adjudicated delinquent to 14 years of age or older.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that this bill may result in a modest annual cost savings to the State. The
Judiciary considers a range of factors in adjudicating a juvenile delinquent and subsequently
ordering, for example, diversion, probation, community service, secure confinement, or
incarceration. The OLS lacks available data on how many juveniles will no longer be adjudicated
delinquent as a result of raising the age of delinquency set forth by the provisions of the bill.
Under the bill, a juvenile aged 14 years or older, may be adjudicated delinquent. Juvenile
delinquency cases are heard in the Family Division of the Superior Court. According to data
published on June 16, 2023 by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the Juvenile
Justice Commission, there is currently only a single juvenile in eighth grade, assuming that the
juvenile is 13, committed to a juvenile facility; and only a single seventh grader in probation
services. Because the bill establishes a minimum age of delinquency at 14 years of age, there may
be a marginal reduction in the number of juveniles that are under the supervision of the Juvenile
Justice Commission at a given time, but the OLS is unable to estimate the exact cost savings to the
commission.
Section: Judiciary
Analyst: Michael Davila
Associate Counsel
Approved: Thomas Koenig
Legislative Budget and Finance Officer
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the
failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:4A-23