N.J. Stat. tit. 30, ch. 14

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-1 Purpose

The Legislature finds and declares that there is a present and growing need to develop services to protect victims of domestic violence. It is the purpose of this act to encourage the development of shelters for these victims and their children where they may obtain necessary services, including shelter, counseling and other social services. L.1979, c. 337, s. 1, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-2 Title of Act

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence Act." L.1979, c. 337, s. 2, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-3 Department of Human Services; operation of shelters

The Department of Human Services shall provide services to those public or private agencies, which meet the standards set forth in this act, to operate shelters for victims of domestic violence. Priority for the allocation of services shall be to viable, existing programs which have successfully performed the delivery of shelter and other services to victims of domestic violence prior to the effective date of this act. L.1979, c. 337, s. 3, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-4 Advisory Council on Domestic Violence.

4. a. There is created an Advisory Council on Domestic Violence which shall consist of 20 members: the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, the Director of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families and the Director of the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services, the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Commissioner of the Department of Education, the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, the Attorney General, or their designees, and one representative of Legal Services of New Jersey, one former domestic violence shelter resident, one representative of the Police Chiefs Association, one representative of the County Prosecutors Association, one representative of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, one representative of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, one representative of the New Jersey Crime Prevention Officers Association, one representative of the New Jersey Hospital Association, one representative of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board, and four representatives of the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women to be appointed by the Governor. b. The advisory council shall: (1) Monitor the effectiveness of the laws concerning domestic violence and make recommendations for their improvement; (2) Review proposed legislation governing domestic violence and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature; (3) Study the needs, priorities, programs, and policies relating to domestic violence throughout the State; and (4) Ensure that all service providers and citizens are aware of the needs of and services available to victims of domestic violence and make recommendations for community education and training programs. c. The advisory council shall periodically advise the Director of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families and the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families on its activities, findings, and recommendations. L.1979, c.337, s.4; amended 1987, c.103; 2005, c.309, s.4; 2006, c.47, s.181; 2012, c.16, s.127.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-5 Standards for shelters

The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the advisory council, shall establish standards to be met by those shelters applying for services to assure the availability of specialized personnel, resources and equipment necessary to enable such shelters to carry out the purposes of this act. Upon establishment of a program of services, the commissioner in consultation with the advisory council shall periodically appraise its performance to determine whether the purposes of this act are being met. L.1979, c. 337, s. 5, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-6 Commissioner of human services; duties

The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the advisory council, shall: a. Provide technical assistance to help public and private agencies to qualify as operators of shelters and to obtain State and Federal funds for the establishment and maintenance of shelters. b. Suggest the types of innovative strategies in services which will ameliorate and reduce the problems of domestic violence. c. Foster cooperation and communication among the providers of services to victims of domestic violence to promote agreement among providers concerning the treatment needs of those victims. d. Provide guidelines for the training and use of volunteers in the delivery of services. L.1979, c. 337, s. 6, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-6.1 Plan to increase awareness for providers of services for victims of domestic violence of workforce development initiative.

5. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence and the Commissioner of Community Affairs shall develop a plan for public agencies and other providers of services to victims of domestic violence, including designated domestic violence agencies as defined in subsection (j) of R.S.43:21-5 and community shelters for victims of domestic violence certified pursuant to standards and procedures established by P.L.1979, c.337 (C.30:14-1 et seq.), to increase agency and provider awareness and use of the State's workforce development system to assist victims of domestic violence. L.2005,c.309,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-7 Facilities of shelter

A shelter shall provide a residential area which provides safe refuge for victims of domestic violence. A shelter shall also provide a day program or drop-in center, located at the shelter site or in a separate facility, which can assist victims of domestic violence who have not yet made the decision to leave their homes, or who have found other shelter but who nevertheless have a need for the services provided at the shelter. L.1979, c. 337, s. 7, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-8 Services of shelter

A shelter shall arrange for the provision of the following services to victims of domestic violence: a. Emergency medical care. b. Emergency legal assistance. c. Marriage and family counseling and emergency psychological support and counseling, as requested. d. Information regarding education, job counseling and training programs, housing, welfare and other available social services accomplished, wherever possible, by referrals to appropriate authorities or agencies. L.1979, c. 337, s. 8, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-9 Services from other agencies

The shelter staff shall advocate the delivery of services from such agencies as county welfare departments and law enforcement and legal services agencies to those served by the shelters. L.1979, c. 337, s. 9, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-10 Staff members; bilingual personnel

To the extent feasible, one or more of the shelter personnel shall be bilingual. An effort shall be made to recruit former victims of domestic assault as staff members. L.1979, c. 337, s. 10, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-11 Funding

The governing body of any county or municipality may appropriate funds or in-kind donations for the support of any private, nonprofit shelter for victims of domestic violence meeting the standards established pursuant to section 5 of this act. L.1979, c. 337, s. 11, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-12 Federal funds

The commissioner shall seek and make use of any funds which are available from Federal or other sources in order to augment any State funds appropriated for the purposes of this program. L.1979, c. 337, s. 12, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-13 Confidentiality for persons seeking shelter services

Information which may reveal the identity or location of a person seeking shelter services shall not be disclosed, except as otherwise specifically required by law or with the consent of the person seeking shelter services. L.1979, c. 337, s. 13, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-13.1 Shelter, domestic violence victims; location, not public record

1. Information which may identify the location of a shelter for victims of domestic violence shall not be deemed to be a public record pursuant to P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) or P.L.2001, c.404 (C.47:1A-5 et seq.). L.2004,c.5.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-14 Minors; release of custody

No shelter providing care for a minor who was in the actual custody of a parent at the time the parent applied for shelter services shall release the minor to any person, including the child's other parent, without the consent of the parent who sought shelter, except as may be otherwise required by court order. L.1979, c. 337, s. 14, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-15 "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund."

3. a. There is hereby established the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund," a dedicated fund within the General Fund and administered by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families. The fund shall be the depository of moneys realized from the civil penalty imposed pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2001, c.195 (C.2C:25-29.1) and any other moneys made available for the purposes of the fund. b. All moneys deposited in the "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund" shall be used for direct services to victims of domestic violence, including, but not limited to, shelter services, legal advocacy services, and legal assistance services, and for related administrative costs of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. L.2001, c.195, s.3; amended 2006, c.47, s.182; 2012, c.16, s.128.

N.J. Stat. § 30:14-16 Rules, regulations.

5. The Department of Human Services may promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). L.2001,c.195,s.5.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026