Rule 5:17-4.Closed Hearings; Records

Last amended September 3, 2002 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5:17-4 conducts every crisis hearing in private, allows an observer only on conditions any family member can veto, and safeguards the records from public inspection.

Full Text of Rule 5:17-4

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Hearings. Every hearing shall be conducted in private with only such persons in attendance as have a direct involvement in the proceeding, except as hereinafter provided. At the judge's discretion, attendance may also be permitted at any private hearing of any person who has an interest in the work of the court; provided, however, that 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 hearing. Upon objection by any family member involved in the hearing or by the attorney of any family member, any person seeking permission to attend because of interest in the work of the court may be excluded from any hearing involving said juvenile.

(b) Records. Social, medical, psychological, legal, and other records of the court or family intake services, and records of law enforcement agencies, found to be part of a juvenile-family crisis matter, shall be strictly safeguarded from public inspection and shall be made available only pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60 to -62. Any application for such records shall be made by motion to the court.

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) 5:9-1. Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; caption amended, text of rule redesignated as paragraph (a), and new paragraph (b) added July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002.

Plain-English Summary

Every hearing is conducted in private, with only those directly involved in attendance.

The exception is unusually generous to the family. The judge may permit someone with an interest in the work of the court to attend, provided they agree not to record, disclose or publish names, photographs or other identifying data of any participant. But on objection by any family member involved in the hearing, or by their attorney, that observer may be excluded — a veto held by the family rather than the court.

Records get the same protection. Social, medical, psychological, legal and other records of the court or family intake services, and records of law enforcement agencies found to be part of a juvenile-family crisis matter, are strictly safeguarded from public inspection and released only as the statutes allow. Any application for them is made by motion to the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are juvenile-family crisis hearings public?

No. Every hearing is conducted in private with only such persons in attendance as have a direct involvement in the proceeding.

Can an observer be excluded?

Yes. On objection by any family member involved in the hearing or by their attorney, a person seeking to attend because of an interest in the work of the court may be excluded.

How do I get crisis records?

Records are strictly safeguarded from public inspection and made available only pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60 to -62. Any application is made by motion to the court.

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. 5:17-4). 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: closed hearingconfidential recordsprivate crisis hearingjuvenile records