Department of Children & Families v. T.B.

On this appeal, we revisit the language of Title Nine, N.J.S.A. 9:6-1 to -8.106, in particular, N.J.S.A 9:6-8.21(e)(4), which defines the term “abused or neglected child.” Specifically, we must determine whether a finding of neglect was properly entered against a mother who left her four-year-old child unsupervised for two hours under the mistaken belief that his grandmother was home. The Appellate Division affirmed the neglect determination by the Director of the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). We granted the mother’s petition for certification, N.J. Div. of Youth & Family…