This bill amends the current 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, kidnapping, and various drug-related crimes.

Additionally, the bill removes specific offenses from the list of those that could lead to a juvenile being tried as an adult, such as criminal homicide and first-degree robbery, and instead allows for a broader application of the law to all NERA crimes. This change aims to ensure that juveniles who commit serious crimes face adult penalties, reflecting a tougher stance on juvenile delinquency in New Jersey. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

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