New Jersey § 52:17b-171
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 52:17b-171, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 52:17b-171.
a. A juvenile detained in, or sentenced to, a State juvenile correctional facility
or county juvenile detention center shall not be subject to room restriction unless
the juvenile poses an immediate and substantial risk of harm to others or to the security
of the facility, and all other less-restrictive options have been exhausted. b. A juvenile may be subject to room restriction only for the minimum time required
to address the safety risk and for a period that does not compromise the mental and
physical health of the juvenile, but in no case shall a juvenile be held in room restriction
for more than eight consecutive waking hours without being released for at least two
hours for recreation and exercise. c. A juvenile who is 15 years of age or younger shall not be subject to room restriction
for more than two consecutive days. A juvenile who is 16 years of age or older but younger than 18 years of age shall
not be subject to room restriction for more than three consecutive days. A juvenile who is 18 years of age or older shall not be subject to room restriction
for more than five consecutive days. A juvenile shall not be subject to room restriction for more than 10 total days
in a calendar month. d. Juveniles subject to room restriction shall continue to receive health, mental
health, and educational services. e. Each State correctional facility or county juvenile detention facility shall document,
in aggregate, the use of room restriction, including the dates and duration of each
occurrence, the reason for placement in room restriction, and the race, age, and gender
of the juvenile placed in room restriction. If any health or mental health clinical evaluations were performed, it shall be
affirmatively certified that the results of those evaluations were considered in any
decision to place the juvenile in room restriction or to continue room restriction. The aggregate data compiled pursuant to this subsection shall be: (1) made available for public inspection pursuant to P.L.1963, c. 73 ( C.47:1A-1 et seq. ), commonly known as the open public records act; and (2) published on the official Internet website of the Juvenile Justice Commission. f. This section shall not prohibit the use of single-person rooms or cells for the
housing of juveniles in State correctional or county juvenile detention centers. g. This section does not apply to juveniles in court holding facilities or adult facilities. h. Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any law providing greater
or additional protections to juveniles. i. For the purposes of this section, “ room restriction ” shall mean the placement of a juvenile in a State juvenile correctional facility
or county juvenile detention center in a locked room or cell, alone or with one other
person, for 22 to 24 hours per day. Room restriction shall not include confinement of a juvenile in a single-person
room or cell for brief periods of locked-room confinement necessary for institutional
operations, including, but not limited to, shift changes, showering, and unit movements.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 52:17b-171
What does New Jersey Statutes § 52:17b-171 cover?
Section 52:17b-171 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 52:17b-171?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 52:17b-171" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 52:17b-171 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.