Bill Text: NJ A2959 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires complaint against juvenile taken into custody be filed within 24 hours.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-21 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A2959 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A2959-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Requires complaint against juvenile taken into custody be filed within 24 hours.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning juveniles in custody and amending P.L.1982, c.77.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 19 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-38) is amended to read as follows:
19. Detention hearing. a. When a juvenile is taken into custody and detained a complaint shall be filed forthwith as provided by the Rules of Court, but in no event shall that complaint be filed later than 24 hours from when the juvenile is taken into custody and detained. The court shall determine whether detention is required pursuant to the criteria provided for in section 15 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-34).
b. Notice of the detention hearing, either oral or written, stating the time, place, and purpose of the hearing shall be given to the juvenile and to the juvenile's parent or parents, or guardian, if any, if they can be contacted.
c. The detention hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Court and shall be attended by the juvenile and one or both parents, or guardian, but may take place in the absence of parent or guardian if such notice or process fails to produce their attendance.
d. When the judge finds that detention is not necessary or required, the court shall order the juvenile's release and may place such conditions, if any, upon release as are consistent with the purposes of this act, the Rules of Court, and as are provided for in section 15 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-34).
e. The initial detention hearing shall be held no later than the morning following the juvenile's placement in detention including weekends and holidays.
f. If a delinquency complaint has not been filed by the time the initial detention hearing has been held, the juvenile shall be released from custody immediately.
g. When the court determines that detention is necessary pursuant to section 15 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-34), the court order continuing the juvenile's detention shall be supported by reasons and findings of fact on the record.
h. If the juvenile is not represented by counsel at the initial detention hearing and if the court continues the juvenile's detention after the hearing, the court shall forthwith schedule a second detention hearing to be held within two court days thereafter at which time the juvenile shall be represented by counsel as provided by the Rules of Court.
i. There shall be a probable cause determination where a juvenile has been charged with delinquency and has been placed in detention, within two court days after the initial hearing or, where a second detention hearing is necessary pursuant to subsection h. of this section, at that hearing.
j. A detention review hearing with counsel shall be held within 14 court days of the prior detention hearing and if detention is continued, detention review hearings shall be held thereafter at intervals not to exceed 21 court days.
k. When a juvenile is detained, an adjudicatory hearing shall be held no later than 30 days from the date of detention. If no adjudicatory hearing is held within 30 days, the court shall, within 72 hours of a motion by the juvenile, fix a date certain for the adjudicatory hearing unless an extension is granted by the court for good cause shown. Written notice of any application for a postponement shall be sent to the juvenile's counsel who shall have the right to be heard on the application.
l. When a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent and is awaiting transfer to a dispositional alternative that does not involve a secure residential or out-of-home placement and continued detention is necessary, the juvenile shall be transferred to a non-secure facility.
(cf: P.L.1995, c.280, s.8)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that a complaint against a juvenile be filed no later than 24 hours from when that juvenile has been taken into custody and detained.
Under current law, a complaint against a detained juvenile must be filed forthwith. "Forthwith" is generally defined as meaning immediately or without delay. Under the bill, a complaint still must be signed forthwith, but in no event longer than 24 hours from when a law enforcement officer has taken that juvenile into custody.
A juvenile enters this State's juvenile justice system when a complaint is signed charging that juvenile with delinquency. Filing the complaint initiates consideration by the family court judge or family court intake officer of whether the juvenile should be released, such as to the juvenile's parents or on the juvenile's own recognizance, or be placed in detention. To ensure fairness and integrity in the juvenile justice system, a complaint of delinquency against a juvenile taken into custody should be filed within 24 hours.
