Basic services, 2022
-
Overall
Mostly state operated
-
Detention
Locally operated
-
Probation
State operated
-
Reentry
State operated
In New Jersey, the state operates the majority of delinquency services. Detention centers are administered by county boards, commissions, county executives/managers, and local sheriffs/police chiefs.
Juvenile probation is administered by probation officers assigned to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Superior Court Probation Services Division.
The Department of Law & Public Safety, Juvenile Justice Commission administers state commitments to juvenile facilities and juvenile reentry services are provided by the Juvenile Justice Commission’s Office of Juvenile Parole and Transitional Services. |
Purpose clauses, 2016
-
No clause
-
Parens patriae
-
Due process era
-
Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ)
-
Developmental Approach
Corrections agency, 2015
-
Independent juvenile corrections agency
-
Family/child welfare agency or division
-
Broad human services agency
-
Adult corrections agency or division
The New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, Juvenile Justice Commission administers state commitments to juvenile correctional facilities. Juvenile reentry services are provided by the Juvenile Justice Commission's Office of Juvenile Parole and Transitional Services.
Intake and diversion, 2016
Initial intake and court diversion decision is at the discretion of the prosecutor or the juvenile court intake officer, divided by offense.
Statutory time limits for pre- & post-petition court diversions exist.
Solitary confinement, 2016
-
Prohibits punitive confinement
-
Limits punitive confinement
-
No limits on punitive confinement
-
Did not respond
Solitary confinement for punitive purposes is not allowed in New Jersey's juvenile correctional facilities. Confinement may be imposed for the safety of others or the security of facility and should only be imposed for the minimum time needed to address safety risk. Maximum time limits vary by the age of the juvenile. Data collection and publication requirements are in place as well. (Adapted from 51 Jurisdiction Survey of Juvenile Solitary Confinement Rules in Juvenile Justice Systems, 2016. Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest at Lowenstein Sandler LLP)
Release decision, 2016
-
Agency
-
Court
-
Parole board
-
Agency and court
The NJ State Parole Board – Juvenile Unit is responsible for pre-release screening and subsequent release of all juvenile offenders committed to the Juvenile Justice Commission. However, where the Office intends to release a juvenile before one-third of the prescribed term of incarceration has been served, it must seek approval from the sentencing court, which has 30 days within which it may block the proposed release. In addition, the court may order an early release on its own. in any case in which a juvenile has been ordered incarcerated, the sentencing court retains jurisdiction for the duration of the incarceration, and may at any time substitute an alternate disposition not involving incarceration. Currently, there is not a risk/needs instrument used to make release decisions for committed juveniles.
Risk assessment, 2020
| Organization |
2013 |
2017 |
2020 |
| Statewide uniform assessment |
|
|
|
| Layered/regional assessment |
|
|
|
| Locally administered assessment |
|
|
|
In New Jersey, juvenile probation services are administered by the Superior Court Probation Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts. They are currently moving to implement the Ohio Youth Assessment Software (OYAS). Due to difficulties with the COVID-19 Pandemic, the OYAS system is set to have complete statewide usage by the end of Autumn 2020.
Sex offender registration, 2015
Registers
Risk instruments, 2017
- Risk instruments tool used
- No statewide tool in use
Mental health screening, 2014
Does not require a research-based mental health screening
-
Secure detention
-
Probation
-
Corrections
- Mental health screening tool used
- Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument –Version 2 (MAYSI-2)
Frameworks for evidence-based practices, 2014
-
Statute
Supporting commitment to EBPs
-
Administrative regulations
Either in corrections, probation, or the juvenile court
-
Support center
Or collaboration dedicated to coordinating activities around implementing, evaluating, and sustaining EBPs
-
No stance
No official stance on EBPs
-
Did not respond
State did not respond to the survey
Recidivism reporting, 2016
- Study populations
-
The group(s) of youth being studied in states that publicly report recidivism data.
-
Arrest
-
Court action
-
Supervision
-
Placement
- Re-offense events
-
Events that are used to measure recidivism in states that publicly report recidivism data.
-
Arrest
-
Court action
-
Supervision
-
Placement
- Follow-up periods
-
Details regarding the length of time and frequency that youth are tracked in states that publicly report recidivism data.
36 months with interval and adult systems reporting
- Details
-
Additional levels of analysis provided in states that publicly report recidivism data.
-
County
-
Age
-
Gender
-
Race/ethn.
-
Risk level
-
Initial offense
-
Re-offense
-
Prior history
The New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) publishes recidivism data for youth released from JJC custody. Recidivism is measured and reported separately by re-arrest, re-adjudication/conviction, and re-incarceration. Recidivism rates are presented at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 month intervals with a maximum follow up period of 36 months.
Data sources
- Release Outcome 2010: A Three-Year Follow-up
- Department of Corrections State Parole Board, Juvenile Justice Commission
