Rule 5:13-8.Confidentiality

Last amended September 1, 1994 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5:13-8 conducts every board and court proceeding in private, safeguards all records and reports from public inspection, and puts board members under an oath of confidentiality.

Full Text of Rule 5:13-8

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(a) Confidentiality of Proceedings, Records and Reports. Every proceeding before the board and the court shall be conducted in private with only such persons in attendance as have a direct involvement in the proceeding; provided, however, that the court may permit the attendance at any board or court proceeding of any person who has an interest in the work of the board or of the court so long as such person shall agree not to record, disclose or publish the names, photographs or other identifying data with respect to any of the participants in the proceeding except as expressly authorized by the court. All records and reports of the board and of the court shall be strictly safeguarded from public inspection; provided, however, that the court may for good cause permit inspection of such records or reports.

(b) Compliance by Board Members. The Assignment Judge or other designated judge shall administer to each board member an oath requiring compliance with the confidentiality requirements set forth in this rule.

End

Amendment History

New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “Note” beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; a “Source” line names the former rule the current one grew out of, and “R. (1969)” citations refer to the earlier numbering it replaced.

Note: Source--R. (1969) 5:7B(h). Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; paragraph (b) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994.

Plain-English Summary

Proceedings before the board and the court are conducted in private, with only those directly involved in attendance.

There is one carefully bounded exception. The court may permit someone with an interest in the work of the board or the court to attend — a researcher, a trainee, an observer — provided they agree not to record, disclose or publish the names, photographs or other identifying data of any participant except as the court expressly authorises.

Records and reports of both the board and the court are strictly safeguarded from public inspection, though the court may permit inspection for good cause. And the obligation is personal as well as institutional: the Assignment Judge or another designated judge administers to each board member an oath requiring compliance with these confidentiality requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are child placement review proceedings public?

No. Every proceeding before the board and the court is conducted in private, with only such persons in attendance as have a direct involvement.

Can anyone else attend?

The court may permit attendance by a person with an interest in the work of the board or the court, so long as they agree not to record, disclose or publish names, photographs or other identifying data of any participant except as expressly authorized by the court.

Are board members sworn to confidentiality?

Yes. The Assignment Judge or other designated judge administers an oath to each board member requiring compliance with the confidentiality requirements.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the official New Jersey Rules of Court, Part V (N.J. Ct. R. 5:13-8). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: confidentiality placement reviewprivate proceedingssealed recordsboard oath