Lowers age which family court may waive jurisdiction of juvenile delinquency case.

This bill lowers the minimum age from 15 to 14 at which New Jersey family courts may waive jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency cases to adult courts. It applies specifically to juveniles aged 14 or older accused of serious offenses like violent crimes (e.g., aggravated assault, kidnapping), certain drug-related crimes, or firearm offenses. Prosecutors must file a motion with written justification, and courts must review factors including the juvenile's age, maturity, prior offenses, and the nature of the crime before waiving jurisdiction. The change directly affects 14-year-olds charged with qualifying serious offenses, shifting their cases to adult court without their consent if the court approves the waiver.