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

This bill (A-414) lowers the minimum age from 15 to 14 for when New Jersey family court may waive jurisdiction over certain juvenile delinquency cases and refer them to adult court without the youth's consent. It applies to juveniles 14 or older accused of specific serious offenses, including homicide, sexual assault, firearm crimes, or drug trafficking. Prosecutors must file a motion with detailed reasons, and courts must review factors like the juvenile's age, prior record, mental health, and victim input before granting a waiver. The change aims to streamline referrals for the most severe cases while maintaining judicial oversight of the process.