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Rule 5:22-4.Proceedings After Waiver

Last amended September 1, 2016 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5:22-4 has a referred case proceed in the receiving court as if begun there, and presumes that a custodial sentence is served in a State juvenile facility until the juvenile reaches 21.

Full Text of Rule 5:22-4

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Procedure. Whenever a juvenile is referred to another court as provided by R. 5:22-1 or R. 5:22-2, the action shall proceed in the same manner as if it has been instituted in that court in the first instance, and shall be subject to the sentencing provisions available to that court.
(b) Custodial Sentence Upon Conviction. Upon conviction for any offense that is subject to waiver pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-26.1(c)(2), there shall be a presumption that the juvenile shall serve any custodial sentence imposed in a State juvenile facility operated by the Juvenile Justice Commission until the juvenile reaches the age of 21, except as provided in N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-26.1(f).
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) 5:9-5(e). Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; caption amended, text amended and designated as paragraph (a) with caption added, and new paragraph (b) adopted August 1, 2016 to be effective September 1, 2016.

Plain-English Summary

Once referred, the action proceeds in the same manner as if it had been instituted in that court in the first instance, and is subject to that court's sentencing provisions. The juvenile is, procedurally, a defendant.

Where the sentence is served is treated differently. On conviction of an offense subject to waiver, there is a presumption that any custodial sentence is served in a State juvenile facility operated by the Juvenile Justice Commission until the juvenile reaches the age of 21, subject to the statutory exception.

So waiver moves the trial to the adult system without immediately moving the child into the adult prison population — the two questions are kept apart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the case proceed after waiver?

In the same manner as if it had been instituted in the receiving court in the first instance, and subject to the sentencing provisions available to that court.

Where does a waived juvenile serve a sentence?

There is a presumption that any custodial sentence imposed is served in a State juvenile facility operated by the Juvenile Justice Commission until the juvenile reaches the age of 21, except as the statute provides.

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. 5:22-4). 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: proceedings after waiveradult sentence juvenilejuvenile justice commissionage 21