Last amended September 3, 2002 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 5:25-1 provides for Juvenile Conference Committees of six to nine community members who hear cases the court refers, on a wholly voluntary basis and in strict confidence.
(a)Appointment; Jurisdiction. The court may appoint one or more Juvenile Conference Committees for the county. If only one committee is appointed for the entire county, it shall sit at such times and places in the county as it shall determine with a view, wherever feasible, to holding hearings in or near the municipality where the juvenile involved resides. If more than one committee is appointed, each committee shall serve a single municipality or 2 or more adjacent municipalities where feasible and all municipalities so served shall have at least one representative on such committee.
(b)Membership. A committee shall consist of not less than 6 nor more than 9 members. Members of a committee, to the maximum feasible extent, shall represent the various socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups in the community or communities to be served by it. The term of each member appointed to the committee shall be for 3 years, and shall terminate on December 31, provided, however, that appointments shall be made so that the terms of one-third of the members of a committee expire each year. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term.
(c)Duties. The committee shall serve as an arm of the court in hearing and deciding such matters involving alleged juvenile offenders as are specifically referred to it by the court. Its function shall be to set limits upon the behavior of the juvenile offenders before it by expressing, through its disposition of each case, the community disapproval of the behavior with which it deals. It shall be concerned primarily with providing balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, fostering interaction and dialogue between the offender, victim and community, and the development of competencies to enable the juvenile offender to become a responsible and productive member of the community. In addition, the committee shall be concerned with endeavoring to forestall more serious future misconduct by the juvenile offender before it by obtaining the voluntary cooperation of the juvenile and the juvenile's parents or guardians with its recommendations for disciplinary or corrective action. The committee shall supervise and follow up compliance with its recommendations and keep the court advised thereof.
(d)Appearance; Compliance. No person shall be compelled to appear before, or comply with any recommendations of, a committee. If voluntary appearance or compliance cannot be attained, or if any person interested in a committee proceeding is not satisfied therewith, the matter shall be referred by the committee to the court.
(e)Confidentiality. All matters coming before a committee shall be held in strict confidence and under no circumstances made public. Every committee member shall be duly sworn by the judge to observe the confidential nature of committee proceedings. A committee member, however, when authorized by the entire committee, may publicize in general terms the duties of the committee, the kinds and numbers of cases it hears (without in any way revealing the names or identities of persons involved or the action taken in any specific case), or any community conditions which the committee's work indicates may require correction to prevent future delinquency.
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) 5:10-2. Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; paragraph (c) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraph (c) amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002.
Plain-English Summary
A Juvenile Conference Committee is the community end of the delinquency system. The court may appoint one or more for a county; a single county-wide committee sits where feasible in or near the municipality where the juvenile lives, and where several are appointed each serves one municipality or two or more adjacent ones, with every municipality represented on the committee serving it.
Membership is deliberately community-shaped: not less than six nor more than nine members, representing to the maximum feasible extent the socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups of the communities served. Terms are three years, ending on December 31, staggered so that one-third of a committee's terms expire each year.
The committee serves as an arm of the court in hearing and deciding matters specifically referred to it. Its stated function is to set limits on behaviour by expressing community disapproval through its disposition of each case, with balanced attention to protecting the community, imposing accountability, fostering dialogue between offender, victim and community, and developing the juvenile's competencies. It also works to forestall more serious future misconduct by obtaining the voluntary cooperation of the juvenile and their parents, and it supervises and follows up compliance, keeping the court advised.
Everything about it is voluntary and confidential. No person may be compelled to appear before a committee or to comply with its recommendations, and if voluntary appearance or compliance cannot be obtained — or anyone interested is dissatisfied — the matter goes back to the court. All matters are held in strict confidence and under no circumstances made public, with every member sworn by the judge. A member authorised by the whole committee may describe its work in general terms, including the kinds and numbers of cases and community conditions needing correction, but never the names, identities or the action taken in any specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Juvenile Conference Committee?
A committee appointed by the court to serve as an arm of the court in hearing and deciding matters involving alleged juvenile offenders that the court specifically refers to it.
How many people sit on one?
Not less than six nor more than nine members, who to the maximum feasible extent represent the socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups of the communities served.
Do I have to appear before the committee?
No. No person shall be compelled to appear before, or comply with any recommendations of, a committee. If voluntary appearance or compliance cannot be attained, or anyone interested is not satisfied, the matter is referred back to the court.
Are committee proceedings confidential?
Yes. All matters coming before a committee are held in strict confidence and under no circumstances made public, and every member is sworn by the judge to observe that confidentiality.
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. 5:25-1). 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:juvenile conference committeeJCCcommunity committeediversion committee