N.J. Stat. tit. 30, ch. 4A

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-1 Establishment of diagnostic center

The State Board of Control of Institutions and Agencies is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to make suitable arrangements, by the acquisition, purchase or condemnation of existing buildings and lands, or by the construction of appropriate buildings on acquired lands, for the establishment of a unit, which shall be centrally located in the State and not adjacent or contiguous to any existing mental, penal or correctional institution, to be known as the Diagnostic Center. L.1946, c. 118, p. 549, s. 1. Amended by L.1947, c. 238, p. 909, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-2 Equipment, staff and administration

The diagnostic center shall be fully equipped with all modern scientific equipment and shall be provided with a staff of competent specialists in the field of medicine, psychiatry and psychology, to the end that full and complete diagnostic services will be available to any governmental agency desiring to secure a complete diagnosis of any individual having need for such services, prior to a final disposition of the case of such person, consistent with the best interests of the welfare of the person and the community. The diagnostic center shall be so administered as to furnish a complete physical and mental inventory of each individual committed to the care and custody of the department, thereby assuring commitment to the institution best suited to care for his particular case, development of the most effective curative or rehabilitative procedures in such case, and the most effective co-ordination of all the institutional facilities provided by the State. Any person may apply for voluntary admission to the diagnostic center and shall be admitted upon good cause shown, after execution of the voluntary admission application and payment in advance of the full per capita cost for the period covered by the diagnostic services to be rendered. L.1946, c. 118, p. 550, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-3 Superintendent; specialists

The diagnostic center shall be under the direct supervision of the superintendent, who shall be appointed and whose salary shall be fixed by the State Board of Control of Institutions and Agencies, and who shall serve at the will of said board. Such further specialists in the field of medicine, psychiatry and psychology shall be appointed to the staff, together with such other assistants as shall appear necessary, subject to the provisions of Title 11, Revised Statutes, Civil Service. Wherever possible the services of specialists now attached to the several State and county mental hospitals shall be utilized. L.1946, c. 118, p. 550, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-4 Use of center by other agencies, persons admitted

4. Any court or any agency of the State, or of any county or municipal government, desiring to utilize the services of the diagnostic center prior to the disposition of the case of any individual, may do so upon application as herein provided. Any person requiring diagnostic services, whether male, female, adult or minor, may be admitted to the center under the terms of this act. L.1946,c.118,s.4; amended 1953,c.29,s.48; 1991,c.91,s.323.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-5 Commitment of defendant for examination

Every judge, before imposing sentence upon a defendant, may order an examination of the mental and physical condition of such defendant and may order his commitment for such purpose to the diagnostic center and shall arrange for the entry of an appropriate order of commitment on forms to be prescribed by the Department of Institutions and Agencies, which shall accompany the defendant to the diagnostic center. L.1946, c. 118, p. 551, s. 5.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-6 Admission of confined person; period of stay; retransfer

If the person, for whom the diagnosis is sought, is confined by virtue of any type of criminal or other process, then admission to the diagnostic center may be secured upon application to the Commissioner of the Department of Institutions and Agencies, who may, after examination of the facts and circumstances, arrange for the transfer of such person from his place of confinement to the diagnostic center. Such person shall remain in the diagnostic center for a period not exceeding ninety days, during which time a complete diagnosis shall be made and a report and recommendation thereon in writing given to the agency requesting the service. Upon completion of the diagnosis, the commissioner shall order the retransfer of the person to his former place of confinement, there to be dealt with in accordance with the statutes in such case made and provided. If necessary, the center may make said retransfer to the former place of confinement. L.1946, c. 118, p. 551, s. 6.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-7 Admission of unconfined persons, procedure.

7. If the person for whom the diagnosis is sought by any court or agency of the State, county, or municipal government, desiring to utilize the services of the diagnostic center, is not under confinement or process, then admission to the diagnostic center shall be secured upon application to the Superior Court upon forms to be provided by the Department of Human Services. The county adjuster shall be the official charged with the responsibility of assisting with processing of the applications and shall perform functions similar to those set forth in Title 30 of the Revised Statutes. In connection with each application, the court shall order a hearing to be held, which may be in camera at the discretion of the court. At least 10 days' notice of the time, date, and place of the hearing shall be served upon the person, and if a minor or a person who is incapacitated, upon the parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis, or person having custody and control of the minor or person who is incapacitated. At the hearing, the court shall determine whether the services of the diagnostic center shall be made available to the person and may order the person's confinement in the center for a period not to exceed 90 days, which order shall be provided to the center. L.1946, c.118, s.7; amended 1953, c.29, s.49; 1991, c.91, s.324; 2013, c.103, s.87.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-8 Minors

8. If the person for whom the diagnosis is sought is a minor under the age of eighteen years and is within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, the said court may make an order placing the said minor in the care and custody of the diagnostic center for a period required for a complete diagnosis and study, not in excess, however, of ninety days and shall cause a copy of said order to accompany said minor to the center. In such case no final commitment or disposition shall be made until the coming in of the report of the diagnostic center. Such report and any recommendation thereon shall not be binding upon the said court but shall be for its guidance in the final disposition of the matter consistent with the best interests of the welfare of the said minor and the community. L.1946,c.118,s.8; amended 1991,c,91,s.325.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-9 Voluntary admissions

Any agency of the State, county or municipal government, desiring to utilize the services of the diagnostic center, upon good cause shown, may arrange for the voluntary admission of the subject for whom the diagnosis is required by securing the execution by said person of a voluntary admission application on forms to be furnished by the center; provided, that such person has attained majority. If such person is a minor then the voluntary admission may be secured by having a parent, person standing in loco parentis or the guardian of such minor, execute the voluntary admission application. L.1946, c. 118, p. 553, s. 9.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-10 Diagnosis and recommendation in writing

When a person is properly admitted to the diagnostic center, accompanied by the order of the court, or on voluntary admission as provided for herein, he shall be received and thereafter a complete diagnosis made and a report and recommendation thereon in writing shall be given to the agency or court requesting the original admission of the person. The agency, following receipt of the report, shall advise the diagnostic center of the disposition to be made of the person and upon failure so to do the diagnostic center shall release the person within the ninety-day period of commitment, or effect his actual transfer to his former place of confinement, placement or residence. L.1946, c. 118, p. 553, s. 10.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-11 Determination of rate per day to be paid for maintenance, treatment and diagnosis; payment; financial statements

The State House Commission in November of each year shall compute and determine the rate per day to be paid for maintaining, treating and diagnosing a person, such rate to become effective on January 1 next following, and the person, court or agency requesting the diagnostic services shall be required to pay such rate of maintenance. The superintendent of the center shall cause regular financial statements to be issued to the several agencies utilizing the services of the center and the revenue when received shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer to become part of the General State Fund. Any funds expended by any court or agency for diagnostic services shall be a proper charge against the person diagnosed or his estate or his legally responsible relatives and may be recovered and reimbursed to said court or agency by the entry of an appropriate order of reimbursement or by any other legal process available for the recovery of just debts and legal obligations. L.1946, c. 118, p. 553, s. 11. Amended by L.1955, c. 44, p. 160, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-12 Prayer-healing believers not required to submit to medical treatment; but only to quarantine and other regulations

Any person who indicates that he subscribes to the art of healing by prayer as practiced by any well recognized religious denomination, the principles of which are opposed to medical treatment, shall not be required to submit to medical treatment unless he, or his parent, guardian or person standing in loco parentis, consents, and shall, if he desires, receive such other treatment permitted under Title 45, chapter nine, of Revised Statutes. Any such person, however, shall be subject to all rules and regulations with reference to quarantine and isolation in case of contagious or infectious diseases and subject to physical restraint in case of emergency or violence. L.1946, c. 118, p. 554, s. 12.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-13 Active treatments within discretion of superintendent

In addition to the diagnostic services to be rendered, the superintendent shall in his discretion arrange for active treatment of any person requiring same during the period of diagnostic observation. L.1946, c. 118, p. 554, s. 13.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-14 Segregation of minors and adults, criminals and non-criminals

There shall be full and complete segregation of all persons admitted to the center according to their age, sex and nature of their physical and mental condition. Minors shall not come into contact with adults at the center, neither shall those already convicted of crime mix and mingle with others at the center. L.1946, c. 118, p. 554, s. 14.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-15 Management

Except as otherwise provided for herein, the management, operation and administration of the diagnostic center and the disposition and release of all persons admitted or committed thereto, shall be in conformity with the provisions of Title 30, Revised Statutes. The State Board of Control of Institutions and Agencies shall be empowered to promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as shall be necessary to give full force and effect to this act. L.1946, c. 118, p. 554, s. 15.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-16 Commitments

When the Department of Institutions and Agencies shall certify that the diagnostic center, provided for herein, has commenced to function in accordance with this act, then all commitments heretofore made under the provisions of sections 2:192-1.1 and 2:192-1.2, Revised Statutes, shall be made under this act and no further commitments shall be made under the said sections 2:192-1.1 and 2:192-1.2, Revised Statutes. L.1946, c. 118, p. 555, s. 16.

N.J. Stat. § 30:4A-17 Effective date

This act shall take effect on July first, one thousand nine hundred and forty-six. L.1946, c. 118, p. 555, s. 17.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026