New Jersey § 9:6-8

§ 9:6-8.

a. In any hearing under this act , including an administrative hearing held in accordance with the “Administrative

Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 ( C.52:14B-1 et seq. ), (1) proof of the abuse or neglect of one child shall be admissible evidence on the

issue of the abuse or neglect of any other child of, or the responsibility of, the

parent or guardian and (2) proof of injuries sustained by a child or of the condition

of a child of such a nature as would ordinarily not be sustained or exist except by

reason of the acts or omissions of the parent or guardian shall be prima facie evidence

that a child of, or who is the responsibility of such person is an abused or neglected

child, and (3) any writing, record or photograph, whether in the form of an entry

in a book or otherwise, made as a memorandum or record of any condition, act, transaction,

occurrence or event relating to a child in an abuse or neglect proceeding of any hospital

or any other public or private institution or agency shall be admissible in evidence

in proof of that condition, act, transaction, occurrence or event, if the judge finds

that it was made in the regular course of the business of any hospital or any other

public or private institution or agency, and that it was in the regular course of

such business to make it, at the time of the condition, act, transaction, occurrence

or event, or within a reasonable time thereafter, shall be prima facie evidence of

the facts contained in such certification. A certification by someone other than the head of the hospital or agency shall be

accompanied by a photocopy of a delegation of authority signed by both the head of

the hospital or agency and by such other employees. All other circumstances of the making of the memorandum, record or photograph, including

lack of personal knowledge of the making, may be proved to affect its weight, but

they shall not affect its admissibility and (4) previous statements made by the child

relating to any allegations of abuse or neglect shall be admissible in evidence;

provided, however, that no such statement, if uncorroborated, shall be sufficient

to make a fact finding of abuse or neglect. b. In a fact-finding hearing (1) any determination that the child is an abused or

neglected child must be based on a preponderance of the evidence and (2) only competent,

material and relevant evidence may be admitted. c. In a dispositional hearing and during all other stages of a proceeding under this

act, only material and relevant evidence may be admitted.