ASSEMBLY, No. 1284

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman GILL

An Act concerning jury trials in juvenile justice cases involving sexual offenses and supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Notwithstanding the provision of N.J.S.2A:4A-40 or any other provision of law to the contrary, a juvenile who is charged with committing an act which if committed by an adult would constitute sexual assault under N.J.S.2C:14-2, or aggravated criminal sexual contact under subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3 shall have the right to a jury trial in the Family Part of the Chancery Division.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that in cases involving juveniles charged with certain sexual offenses, the juvenile shall have a right to a jury trial in the Family Part of the Chancery Division. Recently introduced legislation establishes enhanced consequences for the commission of sexual offenses for adult as well as juvenile offenders. An adjudication of delinquency for certain sexual offenses now carries significant consequences for the adjudicated person including DNA registry, community notification and registration. It is the sponsor's view that in light of these additional repercussions, the juvenile should be entitled to a jury trial in the Family Court.

Permits juveniles charged with certain offenses to have jury trial in the Family Part of the Chancery Division.