Senate committee advances bill to create statewide youth detention task force after county officials describe capacity, cost and care gaps

The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on 2026-05-28 advanced S1279, a bill to create a statewide youth detention task force to study juvenile detention capacity, staffing and services.

Supporters, including the New Jersey Association of Counties and multiple county officials, told the committee the system is fragmented and strained. "We've met regularly since that law and public safety committee hearing last year," said John Donati of the New Jersey Association of Counties, describing ongoing working-group efforts and calling the bill "critically important." He said counties have developed training and detention alternatives but still face "significant challenges" with bed capacity and staffing.

Bergen County's representative said the county is in a capacity crisis and that a high share of residents in detention centers are adults. "We over 60% of the juveniles, no longer juveniles that are in our facility are over the age of 18," said Dave Matin, who testified on behalf of Bergen County, urging the task force to investigate why juvenile crime and adultification are increasing.

Cumberland County deputy business administrator Liz Vasquez provided cost and utilization figures to underscore the financial burden on counties: she said typically 21 to 22 juveniles are housed in regional detention centers, with a current local count of 22; average cost per youth can be about $870 per day, roughly $500,000 per month and just over $5,000,000 last year for her county's juvenile costs. Vasquez and others warned that housing youths far from families complicates rehabilitation and access to services.

Committee members asked for follow-up data on how many juveniles become adults while detained and how lengthy stays affect safety and operations. Witnesses said lengths of stay vary by case and severity; some juveniles may remain in county juvenile facilities for two to three years or longer while court proceedings continue, and counties proposed hearings to decide whether an individual should remain in juvenile custody or move to adult facilities.

The committee voted to amend S1279 to add a representative from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and to make technical changes. After a motion and roll call, senators recorded their votes and the committee released S1279 as amended.

The bill now moves to further legislative steps; sponsors and county officials said they will provide additional data requested by the committee.