Court Rules That Title 9 (abuse and neglect) Hearsay Exception Does Not Apply to Title 30 (termination of parental rights).

In a case of first impression, the Appellate Division has ruled that the Title 9 hearsay exceptions that are authorized for abuse and neglect investigations is not applicable to parental termination cases under Title 30 and that D.C.P.P. may not rely solely upon that uncorroborated hearsay from children to support a termination of parental rights. In the matter entitled Division of Child Protection and Permanency v. T.U.B. and J.E.C. (https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/attorneys/assets/opinions/appellate/published/a2565-15.pdf), the Court ruled that Title 30 (which outlines process for termination of parental rights) does not allow the Court to rely uncorroborated hearsay statements from children when considering the termination of a parent’s rights.  In the case, a man identified only as J.E.C. was living with his son, identified by the fictitious name of Calvin, with J.E.C.’s girlfriend, T.C., and her two minor female daughters, given the fictitious names of Jenny and Sandy.  At one point, the girls alleged that they were raped by J.E.C., and the DCPP launched an investigation.  Following a hearing, the trial court terminated J.E.C.’s parental rights after relying heavily on the girls’ uncorroborated hearsay testimony (which is permitted under Title 9).  In reversing, the Appellate Division ruled that the trial court committed reversible error by relying upon the Title 9 hearsay exception as the plain statutory language of Title 30 does not extend the exception to trials involving the termination of parental rights. The court held that such an expansion would violate a parent’s due process rights.