Bill > A5498

Introduced Session

This bill would provide an affirmative defense to any person under the age of 18 who commits an act of juvenile delinquency which if committed by an adult would be prostitution. The bill is intended to address situations where disadvantaged youth are taken into custody for conduct which stems from the person's background, their environment, lack of support or systemic racism or bias. Under the bill, a person under the age of 18 shall not be considered to commit an act of juvenile delinquency which, under N.J.S.A.2A:4A-23, would be a violation of N.J.S.A.2C:34-1 if committed by an adult but shall be referred by law enforcement to the Department of Children and Family Services for a determination of whether the person is a "socially or economically disadvantaged youth." Under the bill, a "socially or economically disadvantaged youth" means shall mean those persons below 18 years of age from socially disadvantaged or lower income families and whose conduct resulting in the referral likely stemmed from the social or economic disadvantage.

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Shanique Speight (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 03/17/2021)