The bill amends New Jersey's juvenile justice law with a focus on the detention and treatment of juveniles charged with delinquency. It establishes that no juvenile shall be placed in detention or shelter care outside of designated facilities by the Youth Justice Commission or the Department of Children and Families, except under specific conditions. Additionally, it clarifies that juveniles cannot be transferred to adult county jails solely for reaching the age of 18, and mandates courts to hold hearings to determine appropriate detention placements for those who turn 18 while in custody, considering factors like maturity and the nature of the alleged crimes.

Moreover, the bill emphasizes the importance of alternatives to detention, requiring that juveniles charged with delinquency be released pending case disposition unless certain conditions are met. It sets a timeline for trials, mandating that they occur within two years of intake, and introduces standards for handling juveniles who violate probation or are arrested after turning 18. The legislation also ensures that juveniles receive credit for time served prior to a prosecutor's motion for waiver of jurisdiction and calls for the establishment of minimum standards for juvenile detention facilities, aiming to protect the rights of juveniles while maintaining public safety.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2A:4A-37, 2A:4A-26.1, 2A:4A-34