2A :4A-21 Purposes.

2A :4A-21  Purposes.

   2.   Purposes.  This act shall be construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:

   a.   To preserve the unity of the family whenever possible and to provide for the care, protection, and wholesome mental and physical development of juveniles coming within the provisions of this act;

   b.   Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to remove from children committing delinquent acts certain statutory consequences of criminal behavior, and to substitute therefor an adequate program of supervision, care and rehabilitation, and a range of sanctions designed to promote accountability and protect the public;

   c.   To separate juveniles from the family environment only when necessary for their health, safety, or welfare or in the interests of public safety;

   d.   To secure for each child coming under the jurisdiction of the court the care, guidance, and control, preferably in his own home, as will conduce to the child's welfare and the best interests of the State; and when the child is removed from his own family, to secure for him custody, care, and discipline as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given by his parents;

   e.   To insure that children under the jurisdiction of the court are wards of the State, subject to the discipline and entitled to the protection of the State, which may intervene to safeguard them from neglect or injury and to enforce the legal obligations due to them and from them;

   f.   Consistent with the protection of the public interest, to insure that any services and sanctions for juveniles provide balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, fostering interaction and dialogue between the offender, victim, and community, and the development of competencies to enable children to become responsible and productive members of the community;

   g.   To insure protection and a safe environment for those sexually exploited juveniles who are charged with prostitution or who are alleged to be victims of human trafficking; and to provide these juveniles with the appropriate shelter, care, counseling, and crisis intervention services from the time they are taken into custody and for the duration of any legal proceedings; and

   h.   To insure that in any action undertaken within the provisions of this act, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

   L.1982, c.77, s.2; amended 1995, c.280, s.1; 2001, c.408, s.1; 2011, c.195, s.1; 2015, c.255, s.1.