A 1402 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Concerns rights of juvenile defendants who elect to be tried as adults.

This bill requires courts to ensure juvenile defendants (14+ years old, or under 14 for murder charges) who voluntarily choose to be tried as adults fully understand the differences in sentencing and consequences before proceeding. It mandates a court hearing to confirm the election is made knowingly, willingly, and voluntarily, explaining how adult convictions differ from juvenile dispositions. If a juvenile elects adult trial, the law presumes they will serve custodial sentences in juvenile facilities until age 21, with limited options for transfer to adult facilities. The bill also allows courts to remand cases back to juvenile court later if it serves the juvenile's best interests or public safety.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026