2A:12-5.2 Annual report to Legislature.

2. a. The Administrative Director of the Courts, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall submit an annual report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the school-based probation program. The report shall include, but need not be limited to: information on the cost-effectiveness of the program as compared to the more traditional model of juvenile probation; the methods by which the confidentiality of the child involved in the program has been protected and any information-sharing protocols which have been developed between school and probation staff; information on the impact of the program in such areas as drop-out rates, disciplinary referrals, tardiness, absenteeism and academic performance; recommendations as to the preferred model or models of school-based probation to implement on a Statewide basis or any specific parameters of the program that should be mandated; and any other recommendations regarding the expansion of the program.

b. For the purposes of compiling the report required pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the Administrative Director of the Courts shall have access to the pupil record of any child who has been assigned to school-based probation. Information which is provided to the Administrative Director of the Courts pursuant to this subsection regarding a student who has been assigned to school-based probation shall be used under strict conditions of anonymity and confidentiality.

No liability shall attach to any member, officer or employee of any board of education for the furnishing of any pupil records pursuant to this subsection.

L.2001,c.406,s.2.