Read the full stored bill text
S1280 SLP Statement 6/11/26
SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No.
1280
STATE
OF NEW JERSEY
DATED:
�JUNE
11, 2026
����� The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports
favorably Senate Bill No. 1280.
����� As reported by the committee, this bill makes various
revisions to the statutes governing juvenile justice.�
����� Under current law, the following standards apply to
any juvenile who has been placed on probation and who violates the conditions
of that probation after reaching the age of 18; who has been placed on parole
and who violates the conditions of that parole after reaching the age of 18; or
who is arrested after reaching the age of 18 on a warrant emanating from the
commission of an act of juvenile delinquency: 1) in the case of a person 18
years of age but less than 20 years of age, the court, upon application by any
interested party, is to determine the place of detention, taking into
consideration certain factors; and 2) in the case of a person 20 years of age
or older, the person is to be incarcerated in the county jail unless good cause
is shown.
����� Under the provisions of this bill, the following
standards apply to any juvenile who has been placed on probation and violates
the conditions of that probation after reaching the age of 18 or who is
arrested after reaching the age of 18 on a warrant emanating from the
commission of an act of juvenile delinquency: 1) in the case of a person 18
years of age but less than 20 years of age, the court is required to hold a
hearing to determine whether it is in the interest of justice to detain the
juvenile in the county juvenile detention facility, an adult county jail, or a
secure facility operated by the Youth Justice Commission; and 2) in the case of
a person 20 years of age or older, the person is to be incarcerated in the
county jail unless good cause is shown, as provided under current law.
����� In addition, under the bill, when a juvenile who is
detained in a county juvenile detention facility reaches the age of 18, the
court is required to hold a hearing to determine whether it is in the interest
of justice to continue to detain the person in the county juvenile detention
facility or transfer the person to an adult county jail or a secure facility
operated by the Youth Justice Commission.�
����� At the hearing required pursuant to the bill�s
provisions, the court is required to determine the place of detention taking
into consideration the following factors: 1) the physical and mental danger the
person presents to other juveniles; 2) known gang affiliations of the person;
3) the nature of the alleged crimes committed by the person; 4) the history of
prior delinquent acts committed by the person; 5) the physical and mental
maturity of the person; 6) whether the person presents any imminent risk of self-harm;
and 7) any other aggravating or mitigating factors the court deems appropriate.
����� The bill provides that notwithstanding any provisions
of law to the contrary, a juvenile may be detained in a secure facility
operated by the Youth Justice Commission pursuant to the bill�s provisions.
����� In addition, the bill also grants a credit for time
served in certain instances and establishes a limitation on the amount of time
between a juvenile�s intake and final disposition.� Under current law, a
prosecutor seeking to waive jurisdiction of a juvenile delinquency case from
family court to adult criminal court is required to file a motion within 60
days, which time may be extended for good cause.� This bill provides that a
juvenile who is detained for the period of time taken by the prosecutor to file
the motion is to be credited with the time served following the juvenile�s
final disposition resulting in detention.� The bill also requires that a trial
of final disposition is to take place within two years following the juvenile�s
intake.�
����� This bill was prefiled for introduction in the
2026-2027 session pending technical review.� As reported, the bill includes the
changes required by technical review, which has been performed.