This bill amends current New Jersey law to allow for the waiver of juvenile cases to adult court regardless of the juvenile's age under specific circumstances. It expands the list of offenses for which juveniles can be waived to include terrorism and human trafficking, in addition to existing serious offenses such as criminal homicide and aggravated sexual assault. The bill stipulates that if there is probable cause to believe a juvenile committed a qualifying offense, the court may waive jurisdiction and refer the case to the appropriate court and prosecuting authority, provided the circumstances and severity of the offense justify such a waiver.

Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language that allows for the waiver of jurisdiction without the juvenile's consent if they are charged with certain serious offenses, including terrorism and human trafficking. It also mandates the collection and analysis of data regarding the waiver of jurisdiction by the Juvenile Justice Commission, which will report biennially on demographics, case characteristics, and waiver rates by race and ethnicity. This data collection aims to ensure uniform application of the law and to inform future legislative recommendations. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

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