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(Star-Ledger file photo)

TRENTON — A measure to make it more difficult to charge youth offenders as adults and overhaul the juvenile justice system is nearing Gov. Chris Christie's desk.

The state Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee on Monday voted 5-3 to approve the measure (S2003), which changes the minimum age at which judges can "waive" juvenile offenders into the adult system from 14 to 15, and make sure those over 15 could only be sent to adult courts for the most serious offenses, including homicide and sexual assault.

The bill, which passed the state Senate in May, now goes to the full Assembly.

"Children should not be placed in the adult court system unless absolutely necessary. This is especially true for low-risk juveniles," said state Sen. Nellie Pou (D-Passaic), the bill's sponsor, in a May 18 statement. "There has been no evidence to support that waiving youths reduces juvenile crimes. Yet, studies have shown that young individuals who are waived to the adult system are more likely to (commit crimes again). With these guidelines, we will provide clearer and more appropriate parameters when it comes to waiving juveniles."

Prosecutors would have 60 days to seek the transfer of the case to adult court, up from the current 30, and would have to include a written statement "clearly setting forth the facts used in assessing the waiver factors together with an explanation as to how evaluation of those facts support waiver for each particular juvenile."

The age at which adolescents would be able to be transferred to adult facilities would increase from 16 to 18. The bill would require that offenders be notified of the transfer in writing and given the opportunity "to be represented and heard if they have any objections." It would also allow some offenders to stay in juvenile facilities until age 21 "if good cause is shown."

Solitary confinement, or "room restriction" - currently limited to eight hours a day for a maximum of 10 days total in a month - would be reduced. It would be limited to no more than two consecutive days for 15-year-olds, no more than three for those between 16 and 17, and no more than five for those 18 and older.

The bill would also it easier for prosecutors to seek extended sentences for young offenders for some first-degree crimes.

The bill passed the state Senate in May by a vote of 24-10 and awaits a vote in the full Assembly before reaching Christie's desk.

The Office of Legislature Services' fiscal estimate of the bill says it would case an "indeterminate increase" in state expenditures. The estimates cites data from 2009 that showed 155 juveniles waived to adult court.

The Administrative Office of the Courts supports the legislation.

"It's really about saving lives and trying to break the cycle of crime. It's another evolution of smart justice that NJ has been buying into for the last decade," said Daniel Phillips, the agency's legislative liaison. "All these things work. And it's a reason why our detention centers, our jails and our prisons are well below capacity right now, as well as a drop in crime generally."

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Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. e