N.J. Stat. tit. 9, ch. 22

N.J. Stat. tit. 9, ch. 22
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-1 Municipal youth guidance council

When authorized by resolution of the municipal governing body, the mayor or chief executive officer of each municipality in this State shall appoint by and with the advice and consent of the said governing body a municipal youth guidance council for the said municipality of not to exceed seven members, all of whom shall be residents of the said municipality. The membership of the municipal youth guidance council shall include at least one representative of the municipal governing body, one representative of the school system, and one representative of the municipal police department. L.1947, c. 179, p. 819, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-2 Joint municipal youth guidance commission in contiguous municipalities

Two or more contiguous municipalities may by concurrent resolution of their respective governing bodies establish a joint municipal youth guidance commission. Where a joint municipal youth guidance commission is established, the membership shall be divided among the participating municipalities on a basis deemed equitable by the respective governing bodies. L.1947, c. 179, p. 819, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-3 Terms of members

Members of the municipal youth guidance council shall be appointed to serve for a term of three years or until their successors be appointed with the exception that the terms of the original membership of the council should be so constituted as to provide that three of the members shall serve for one year, two for two years, and two for three years. L.1947, c. 179, p. 819, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-4 Annual organization; meetings

The members of the municipal youth guidance council shall organize annually by selecting a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. The municipal youth guidance council shall meet regularly, at least once each month, and at such other times as its chairman shall direct. L.1947, c. 179, p. 820, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-5 Duties of guidance council

The municipal youth guidance council shall be charged with responsibility to: a. Assist in co-ordinating and integrating community plans and services, governmental and voluntary, affecting the welfare of all children and youth in the community. b. Assist in co-ordinating and integrating community plans and services, governmental and voluntary, for protecting children who are especially exposed to conditions conducive to delinquency. c. Assist in co-ordinating and integrating community plans for the control of harmful influences in the community. L.1947, c. 179, p. 820, s. 5.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-6 Powers of guidance council

Each municipal youth guidance council shall have power: a. To undertake, supervise or direct the making of studies and surveys of all matters and things which are or may be related to or in the interest of youth guidance. b. To create subcommittees, composed of members and nonmembers of the municipal youth guidance council, to aid and assist in the work of the said council. c. To request and obtain such co-operation, assistance and data from various municipal departments, boards, bureaus, commissions and other agencies as may be reasonably necessary in order to carry out its work. d. To make recommendations, devise plans and suggest ways and means to meet the various problems having to do with youth guidance. L.1947, c. 179, p. 820, s. 6.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-7 Division of Community Services for Delinquency Prevention to advise guidance councils

It shall be the duty of the Division of Community Services for Delinquency Prevention, of the Department of Institutions and Agencies, hereafter referred to as the State agency, to advise and counsel each municipal youth guidance council and fully to cooperate with such councils in the development of plans and activities. L.1947, c. 179, p. 820, s. 7.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-8 Adjustment committee of guidance council; plan of operation; records; reports

8. Any municipal youth guidance council may, by resolution, create a special subcommittee to be known as the adjustment committee consisting of persons qualified by experience and training to assist in and to co-ordinate the efforts of police, schools, and other agencies to provide guidance and counsel to children with incipient behavior problems and to co-operate with the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part having jurisdiction when cases arise in which official adjudication of delinquency seems indicated. When an adjustment committee shall have been appointed, the municipal youth guidance council shall draft a plan of operation which shall be registered with the State agency, referred to in section 6 of this act and with the Family Part having jurisdiction. This plan shall outline the procedure for the referral of cases to the committee by police, schools, other agencies concerned with youth problems, and by other interested persons. The adjustment committee of each municipal youth guidance commission shall maintain summary records of each child brought to its attention. The summary records shall include data concerning the circumstances surrounding each referral of a child to the committee, concerning his family, school, church, and neighborhood relationships, and concerning the methods used by the committee to improve the adjustment of the child. These records shall be confidential with the exception that they may be reviewed at any time by the judge of the Family Part having jurisdiction, to make sure that no child properly referrable to such court is denied access to the court. Each municipal youth guidance council may also be called upon to provide reports of the operations of its adjustment committee by the municipal governing body, the Family Part, or by the State agency. L.1947,c.179,s.8; amended 1991,c.91,s.214.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-9 Hearings.

9. Any municipal youth guidance council having an adjustment committee may petition the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, in its discretion, to either: a. Establish a schedule for a holding of juvenile hearings in a suitable location chosen by the adjustment committee within the limits of the petitioning municipality; or b. Appoint a referee to hear and recommend disposition of any cases specifically referred to the referee by the Family Part of the county and any cases coming within the provisions of the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice," P.L.1982, c. 77 (C.2A:4A-20 et seq.) arising within the limits of the petitioning municipality. It shall be the duty of the petitioning municipality to see that adequate diagnostic services shall be made available to such children. Any case requiring the detention of a child shall be referred to the Family Part for hearing. Upon receipt of a petition to appoint a referee the Family Part shall proceed to appoint a member of the adjustment committee, or some other suitable person, as referee, in accordance with N.J.S.2A:4-12. Nothing in this provision shall limit the present discretionary power of the Family Part to appoint referees on their own initiative or to prevent such a court from hearing cases scheduled to be heard in the petitioning municipality in place of the referee so appointed by it. L.1947,c.179,s.9; amended 1953, c.9, s.61; 1991,c.91,s.215; 2025, c.35, s.26.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-11 Appropriations to municipal youth guidance council

Each municipality of this State is hereby authorized and empowered to appropriate and make available to its municipal youth guidance council such sums of money as may be deemed necessary to defray its expenses, and the activities of such municipal youth guidance councils are hereby declared to be proper purposes for which the moneys of the municipality may be expended. L.1947, c. 179, p. 822, s. 11.

N.J. Stat. § 9:22-12 Effective date

This act shall take effect July first, one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven. L.1947, c. 179, p. 823, s. 12.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026

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