This bill amends the existing juvenile waiver law in New Jersey to mandate that juveniles be tried as adults for certain serious offenses under the No Early Release Act (NERA), regardless of their age. Previously, only juveniles aged 15 and older could be waived to adult court for specific offenses, such as criminal homicide and first-degree robbery. The new legislation expands the scope to include all crimes classified under NERA, which encompasses a wide range of serious offenses, including murder, aggravated assault, and terrorism, among others.

Additionally, the bill removes specific offenses from the previous list that could lead to a juvenile being tried as an adult, such as criminal homicide and first-degree robbery, indicating a shift towards a broader application of the law. The court will now have the authority to waive jurisdiction without the juvenile's consent if there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile committed a NERA offense. This change aims to ensure that juveniles who commit serious crimes face adult legal consequences, reflecting a tougher stance on juvenile delinquency in New Jersey.

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