Responsibilities

The County Adjuster is responsible for effectuating the statutory duties set forth in N.J.S.A. 30:4-34, et seq.

The Office of the County Adjuster schedules Court hearings for anyone committed to a Federal, State, County, Private or Special Psychiatric Hospital. Unless a client has private counsel, an attorney is assigned to represent the client at the hearing. These hearings, by law, must be held within 20 days of confinement for an adult and 14 days of confinement for an adolescent. Until the clients are discharged, they are afforded a review of their admission status on a regular basis.

Each County is responsible for covering the costs of care for its residents. The County Adjuster, acting as referee of the Court, investigates the residency and ability to pay of those admitted to the hospitals, and reports those findings to the Superior Court. The Court then issues an Order, which indicates the County’s financial responsibility and the amount, if any, the patient or relative is responsible for at the time.

The County Adjuster is responsible to research an individual’s mental health history for local and state police departments when an individual is applying for a gun permit. Our Office utilizes State databases to research the applicant and return findings to the local police department for their action on the application.

 

ALL RECORDS OF THE COUNTY ADJUSTER’S OFFICE ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.