2A:4A-20. Short title
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2A:4A-20. Short title
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice."
L.1982, c. 77, s. 1, eff. Dec. 31, 1983.
2A:4A-21 Purposes.
2. Purposes. This act shall be construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:
a. To preserve the unity of the family whenever possible and to provide for the care, protection, and wholesome mental and physical development of juveniles coming within the provisions of this act;
b. Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to remove from children committing delinquent acts certain statutory consequences of criminal behavior, and to substitute therefor an adequate program of supervision, care and rehabilitation, and a range of sanctions designed to promote accountability and protect the public;
c. To separate juveniles from the family environment only when necessary for their health, safety or welfare or in the interests of public safety;
d. To secure for each child coming under the jurisdiction of the court such care, guidance and control, preferably in his own home, as will conduce to the child's welfare and the best interests of the State; and when such child is removed from his own family, to secure for him custody, care and discipline as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given by his parents;
e. To insure that children under the jurisdiction of the court are wards of the State, subject to the discipline and entitled to the protection of the State, which may intervene to safeguard them from neglect or injury and to enforce the legal obligations due to them and from them; and
f. Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to insure that any services and sanctions for juveniles provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, fostering interaction and dialogue between the offender, victim and community and the development of competencies to enable children to become responsible and productive members of the community.
L.1982,c.77,s.2; amended 1995, c.280, s.1; 2001, c.408, s.1.
2A:4A-22. General definitions
3. General definitions. As used in this act:
a. "Juvenile" means an individual who is under the age of 18 years.
b. "Adult" means an individual 18 years of age or older.
c. "Detention" means the temporary care of juveniles in physically restricting facilities pending court disposition.
d. "Shelter care" means the temporary care of juveniles in facilities without physical restriction pending court disposition.
e. "Commit" means to transfer legal custody to an institution.
f. "Guardian" means a person, other than a parent, to whom legal custody of the child has been given by court order or who is acting in the place of the parent or is responsible for the care and welfare of the juvenile.
g. "Juvenile-family crisis" means behavior, conduct or a condition of a juvenile, parent or guardian or other family member which presents or results in (1) a serious threat to the well-being and physical safety of a juvenile, or (2) a serious conflict between a parent or guardian and a juvenile regarding rules of conduct which has been manifested by repeated disregard for lawful parental authority by a juvenile or misuse of lawful parental authority by a parent or guardian, or (3) unauthorized absence by a juvenile for more than 24 hours from his home, or (4) a pattern of repeated unauthorized absences from school by a juvenile subject to the compulsory education provision of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
h. "Repetitive disorderly persons offense" means the second or more disorderly persons offense committed by a juvenile on at least two separate occasions and at different times.
i. "Court" means the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part unless a different meaning is plainly required.
j. "Commission" means the Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.284 (C.52:17B-170).
L.1982,c.77,s.3; amended 1991,c.91,s.4; 1995,c.280,s.2.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice."
L.1982, c. 77, s. 1, eff. Dec. 31, 1983.
2A:4A-21 Purposes.
2. Purposes. This act shall be construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:
a. To preserve the unity of the family whenever possible and to provide for the care, protection, and wholesome mental and physical development of juveniles coming within the provisions of this act;
b. Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to remove from children committing delinquent acts certain statutory consequences of criminal behavior, and to substitute therefor an adequate program of supervision, care and rehabilitation, and a range of sanctions designed to promote accountability and protect the public;
c. To separate juveniles from the family environment only when necessary for their health, safety or welfare or in the interests of public safety;
d. To secure for each child coming under the jurisdiction of the court such care, guidance and control, preferably in his own home, as will conduce to the child's welfare and the best interests of the State; and when such child is removed from his own family, to secure for him custody, care and discipline as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given by his parents;
e. To insure that children under the jurisdiction of the court are wards of the State, subject to the discipline and entitled to the protection of the State, which may intervene to safeguard them from neglect or injury and to enforce the legal obligations due to them and from them; and
f. Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to insure that any services and sanctions for juveniles provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, fostering interaction and dialogue between the offender, victim and community and the development of competencies to enable children to become responsible and productive members of the community.
L.1982,c.77,s.2; amended 1995, c.280, s.1; 2001, c.408, s.1.
2A:4A-22. General definitions
3. General definitions. As used in this act:
a. "Juvenile" means an individual who is under the age of 18 years.
b. "Adult" means an individual 18 years of age or older.
c. "Detention" means the temporary care of juveniles in physically restricting facilities pending court disposition.
d. "Shelter care" means the temporary care of juveniles in facilities without physical restriction pending court disposition.
e. "Commit" means to transfer legal custody to an institution.
f. "Guardian" means a person, other than a parent, to whom legal custody of the child has been given by court order or who is acting in the place of the parent or is responsible for the care and welfare of the juvenile.
g. "Juvenile-family crisis" means behavior, conduct or a condition of a juvenile, parent or guardian or other family member which presents or results in (1) a serious threat to the well-being and physical safety of a juvenile, or (2) a serious conflict between a parent or guardian and a juvenile regarding rules of conduct which has been manifested by repeated disregard for lawful parental authority by a juvenile or misuse of lawful parental authority by a parent or guardian, or (3) unauthorized absence by a juvenile for more than 24 hours from his home, or (4) a pattern of repeated unauthorized absences from school by a juvenile subject to the compulsory education provision of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
h. "Repetitive disorderly persons offense" means the second or more disorderly persons offense committed by a juvenile on at least two separate occasions and at different times.
i. "Court" means the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part unless a different meaning is plainly required.
j. "Commission" means the Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1995, c.284 (C.52:17B-170).
L.1982,c.77,s.3; amended 1991,c.91,s.4; 1995,c.280,s.2.