NJ A5018

Requires court approval before a juvenile defendant (age 14+, or under 14 for murder charges) can voluntarily elect to transfer their case from Family Part to Criminal Part to be tried as an adult

Mandates a court hearing to inform the juvenile of sentencing differences between juvenile and adult systems and to verify the election is made knowingly, willingly, and voluntarily

Creates a presumption that juveniles convicted after electing adult court serve custodial sentences in State juvenile facilities until age 21, with possible transfer to adult corrections at the Juvenile Justice Commission's discretion

Allows juveniles who reach age 21 to remain in juvenile facilities with their consent and commission approval, or be transferred to adult correctional facilities

Permits the court to remand the case back to Family Part at any point if both the juvenile and prosecutor consent and if juvenile programs better serve public interests and the juvenile's best interests