ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4568

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 19, 2025

      The Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4568.           As amended and reported by the committee, this bill establishes the “Task Force on the Status of Juvenile Delinquency and Remediation.”

      The task force is to consist of 23 members.  Four legislative members are to be appointed to the task force including two members of the Senate and two members of the General Assembly.  The task force is to have ten ex-officio members, including: the Administrative Director of the Courts; the Attorney General; the Executive Director of the Youth Justice Commission; the Commissioners of Education, Children and Families, and Human Services; the Public Defender; the Superintendent of the State Police; the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice; and the chair of the Governor’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee.         An additional six public members are to be appointed to the task force by the Governor, including a person knowledgeable of motor vehicle theft, and representatives of: the County Prosecutors Association of the State of New Jersey; the County Youth Services Commission Administrators; the Office of Local and Program Services within the Youth Justice Commission; the New Jersey Juvenile Officers Association; and an organization that defends civil rights or promotes social justice.  Finally, three public members with experience in processing juvenile offenders, such as retired Family Court judges or attorneys in private practice, are to be appointed by the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

     The charge of the task force is to examine the cause of the recent increase in juvenile criminal activity and to identify legislative, executive and judicial remedies.  Specifically, the task force is required to evaluate the increase in juvenile offenders charged with serious offenses and repeat offenders, the coordination and availability of post adjudication services across the State, the capability of existing facilities in meeting the current needs of adjudicated delinquents, and any other issues related to the furtherance of the State’s commitment to the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative.

      This bill becomes effective immediately upon enactment. All appointments to the task force are to be made within 90 days of the bill’s effective date and the task force will organize within 120 days of the bill’s effective date.  The task force will choose a chairperson from among its membership and will have administrative support from the Youth Justice Commission. The task force is entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.  Within 18 months of its initial organization meeting, the task force is required to submit a report of its findings, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and the Legislature.  The task force will expire 30 days after the submission of its report.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments are technical in nature and update the name of the Youth Justice Commission, which previously was known as the Juvenile Justice Commission.