A
juvenile enters the juvenile justice system when a complaint
charging the commission of a delinquent act is signed.
A law enforcement officer may take a juvenile into custody
when there is probable cause to believe that the juvenile
is delinquent. In lieu of signing a delinquency complaint,
the officer may divert the case through several means,
including releasing the juvenile to a responsible parent
or guardian (with or without a reprimand and warning)
or conduct a station house adjustment. Once a delinquency
complaint is signed, a juvenile can be held in a secure
detention facility if certain statutory criteria are
met. The officer refers the case to court intake service
to request admission into detention.
Juvenile/Family
Crisis Intervention Units
Juvenile/Family Crisis Intervention Units (JFCIUs) were
authorized to divert from court proceedings, matters
involving family related problems, e.g., incorrigibility,
truancy, runaway and serious family conflict. The JFCIUs
provide short-term, crisis intervention services with
the goal of stabilizing the family situation and/or
referring the juvenile and family to available community
agencies.
Court
Diversion
Juvenile
Conference Committees (JCCs) and Intake Service Conferences
(ISCs) are diversion procedures established by the court
and utilized in select first and second offenses of
a minor nature. JCCs are comprised of community residents
appointed by the court to review certain delinquency
complaints. ISCs are conducted by court intake staff
to review slightly more serious delinquency allegations.
Both diversion procedures occur after delinquency complaints
have been signed and filed with the court.
Secure
Detention
Secure
juvenile detention is the temporary placement of juveniles
charged with a delinquent act, in a locked facility,
prior to the disposition of their case. New Jersey law
mandates that the court can detain juveniles only if
they are considered a danger to the community or if
they are deemed a risk not to appear in court. (N.J.S.A.
2A:4A-34). In addition, some juveniles are detained
post-disposition while awaiting program placement. Several
counties have also developed a short-term commitment
program, which serves as a dispositions option.
In
New Jersey, counties are generally responsible for operating
and financing detention facilities. The State's role
is primarily limited to standard setting, monitoring
and technical assistance through the JJC's Compliance
Monitoring Unit. In 1999 there were 18 juvenile detention
facilities statewide, with a capacity of 910 beds.
