New Jersey Statutes 2A:4A-72. Recommendation of diversion
Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 2A:4A-72
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- person: includes corporations, companies, associations, societies, firms, partnerships and joint stock companies as well as individuals, unless restricted by the context to an individual as distinguished from a corporate entity or specifically restricted to one or some of the above enumerated synonyms and, when used to designate the owner of property which may be the subject of an offense, includes this State, the United States, any other State of the United States as defined infra and any foreign country or government lawfully owning or possessing property within this State. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
b. Where, in determining whether to recommend diversion, court intake services has reason to believe that a parent or guardian is a person with a substance use disorder, the basis for this determination shall be stated in its recommendation to the court.
c. The county prosecutor shall receive a copy of each complaint filed pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C. 2A:4A-30) promptly after the filing of the complaint.
d. Within 5 days after receiving a complaint, the intake services officer shall advise the presiding judge and the prosecuting attorney of intake service’s recommendation, as well as any other recommendations or objections received as to the complaint. In determining whether to divert, the court may hold a hearing to consider the recommendations and any objections submitted by court intake services in light of the factors provided in this section. The court shall give notice of the hearing to the juvenile, his parents or guardian, the prosecutor, arresting police officer and complainant or victim. Each party shall have the right to be heard on the matter. If the court finds that not enough information has been received to make a determination, a further hearing may be ordered. The court may dismiss the complaint upon a finding that the facts as alleged are not sufficient to establish jurisdiction, or that probable cause has not been shown that the juvenile committed a delinquent act.
L.1982, c. 81, s. 3, eff. Dec. 31, 1983; amended 2023, c.177, s.3.