This bill amends current law to lower the age at which the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part may waive jurisdiction over a juvenile delinquency case from 15 years old to 14 years old. Under the revised law, a prosecutor can file a motion to waive jurisdiction without the juvenile's consent if the juvenile is 14 years of age or older at the time of the alleged delinquent act and if there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile committed a serious offense that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult. The bill maintains the requirement for the court to consider various factors, such as the juvenile's age, maturity, and prior history of delinquency, when deciding on the waiver.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the Attorney General to develop guidelines to ensure uniform application of the waiver process across the state. It also mandates the Juvenile Justice Commission to establish a program for collecting and analyzing data related to the waiver of jurisdiction, including demographics and case characteristics, and to publish biennial reports on their findings. This aims to enhance transparency and inform future legislative recommendations regarding juvenile delinquency cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:4A-26.1