NJ A5495

Lowers the minimum age for waiving juvenile court jurisdiction from 15 to 14 years old, allowing prosecutors to seek transfer of certain cases to adult court for younger defendants

Applies to serious offenses including criminal homicide, first degree robbery, carjacking, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, aggravated arson, and certain weapons and drug trafficking crimes

Courts must still consider factors before granting waiver, including the juvenile's age and maturity, degree of criminal sophistication, prior delinquency history, mental health concerns, and input from victims

Juveniles convicted after waiver would presumptively serve sentences in state juvenile facilities until age 21, with possible transfer to adult corrections at the Juvenile Justice Commission's discretion

If a waived juvenile is not convicted of a qualifying serious offense, the conviction is treated as a juvenile adjudication and remanded to family court for disposition