Stationhouse Adjustments. All municipal and other law enforcement agencies having patrol jurisdiction within the State of New Jersey shall make stationhouse adjustments available as a method of handling minor juvenile delinquency offenses within their jurisdiction. See Attorney General Directive 2008-2, Attorney General Guidelines for Stationhouse Adjustment of Juvenile Delinquency Offenses. A stationhouse adjustment is an alternative method that law enforcement agencies may use in their discretion to handle first-time juvenile offenders who have committed minor juvenile delinquency offenses within their jurisdiction. The availability of a stationhouse adjustment as a method of handling minor juvenile delinquency offenses does not require law enforcement agencies to use it unless they determine it is appropriate to do so. The intent of the stationhouse adjustment program is to provide for immediate consequences, such as community service or restitution and a prompt and convenient resolution for the victim, while at the same time benefitting the juvenile by avoiding the stigma of a formal juvenile delinquency record. In many instances, this early intervention will deter the youth from continuing their negative behavior and divert the youth from progressing further into the juvenile justice system. Though a report to law enforcement allows officers to remain vigilant to the possibility of a criminal act occurring off school grounds, law enforcement is not required to file a formal complaint against a juvenile for any offense. In response to reports to law enforcement by schools, stationhouse adjustments should be employed whenever appropriate to avoid the stigma of a formal juvenile delinquency record. When considering whether to report an offense to law enforcement, schools should ensure that all available school resources and sanctions are employed prior to making the report.
Stationhouse Adjustments. Certain minor juvenile delinquency offenses may be resolved by police departments through the means of stationhouse adjustments. This is a voluntary process that, if successful, diverts the case from formal processing, and avoids the creation of a juvenile delinquency record for the juvenile. Since no charge is filed, the school need not be provided notice of a stationhouse adjustment and need not be involved in the process. However, when the school district is a victim of a minor juvenile offense, such as a minor theft or offense involving trespass or the destruction of school grounds, the school shall be notified and should be included in the stationhouse adjustment process, in the same manner as any other victim. Schools are not precluded from providing community service opportunities or other programs for stationhouse adjustment programs.
Stationhouse Adjustments. Though a report to law enforcement allows officers to remain vigilant to the possibility of a criminal act occurring off school grounds, law enforcement is not required to file a formal complaint against a juvenile for any offense. In response to reports to law enforcement by schools, stationhouse adjustments should be employed whenever appropriate to avoid the stigma of a formal juvenile delinquency record. When considering whether to report an offense to law enforcement, schools should strive to utilize all available school resources and sanctions prior to making the report, unless a mandatory report is required, and consult with law enforcement if necessary. The Attorney General Directive 2020-12 Directive Establishing Policies, Practices, and Procedures to Promote Juvenile Justice Reform, repealed and superseded the provisions of Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2008-2 (Guidelines for Stationhouse Adjustment of Juvenile Delinquency Offenses); the 1998 Attorney General Guidelines on Procedures for Collecting Juvenile Fingerprints and Photographs; and Attorney General Executive Directive No. 1990-1 (Handling of Juvenile Matters by Police and Prosecutors). The Directive outlines mechanisms available to police officers and prosecutors to divert youth from the juvenile justice system and limit the likelihood of unnecessary detention. The one mechanism that is applicable in the school setting is the stationhouse adjustment. A stationhouse adjustment is designed to divert a juvenile from the juvenile justice system without the filing of charges. In such situations, an officer typically asks the juvenile and a parent or guardian/caregiver/designee to come to the police station to discuss an alleged offense and work together to develop an appropriate resolution, which is then memorialized in a written agreement. The officer may refer the juvenile for social services and, if property has been stolen or damaged, require the juvenile to make restitution in some form. The goal is to engage the parent or guardian/caregiver/designee—and, where appropriate, the victim—in any resolution, allowing the family and community resources to address the violation rather than the courts.
Stationhouse Adjustments. All municipal and other law enforcement agencies having patrol jurisdiction within the State of New Jersey shall make stationhouse adjustments available as a method of handling minor juvenile delinquency offenses within their jurisdiction. See Attorney General Directive 2008-2,
