2. The purpose of the unit shall be to provide a continuous 24-hour on call service designed to attend and stabilize juvenile-family crises as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C. 2A:4A-22). The juvenile-family crisis intervention unit shall respond immediately to any referral, complaint or information made pursuant to section 5 or 6 of this act, except if, upon preliminary investigation, it appears that a juvenile-family crisis within the meaning of this act does not exist or that an immediate referral to another agency would be more appropriate.

Upon the receipt of any referral pursuant to section 5 and 6 of this act, the crisis intervention unit shall request information through the use of a form developed by the unit and approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts concerning the juvenile-family crisis. The form shall provide but shall not be limited to the following information:

a. The name, address, date of birth, and other appropriate personal data of the juvenile and parents or guardian;

b. Facts concerning the conduct of the juvenile or family which may contribute to the crisis, including evidence of substance use disorder or that a juvenile is an “abused or neglected child” as defined in P.L.1974, c.119 (C. 9:6-8.21).

L.1982, c. 80, s. 2, eff. Dec. 31, 1983; amended 2023, c.177, s.4.”