TRENTON, NJ—New Jersey is on track to pass legislation raising the minimum age for juvenile delinquency adjudications to 14 years. The bill proposes a significant change to the state’s juvenile justice system by redefining “delinquency” and the age at which individuals can be held accountable for criminal acts under juvenile law.
Currently, under the New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice, “delinquency” encompasses various offenses that, if committed by an adult, would be considered criminal.
The state currently recognizes anyone under 18 as a juvenile. This bill, however, limits delinquency adjudications to those who are 14 or older, effectively altering the juvenile code’s definition of a “juvenile.”
Furthermore, the legislation mandates the creation of a Juvenile Justice working group by the Attorney General.
This group will be tasked with advising on the implementation of the new law and will include diverse members from the mental health community, law enforcement, civil rights and social justice organizations, child protection services, and the judiciary, among others.