Parental Representation Unit

Post Office Box 850
Trenton, NJ 08625
TEL 609-341-3832
FAX 609-341-3819
E-mail: PRU_PD@opd.state.nj.us

The Parental Representation Unit (PRU) was created in 1999 as part of the the OPD's new responsibilities under the State's implementation of the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. That act aims to speed the process by which foster parents may formally adopt children if the minors' biological parents are deemed to be unable or unwilling to correct the problems that resulted in their children being placed in foster care.

PRU attorneys represent parents charged in Family Court under Title 9 with child abuse and/or neglect and also represent those facing the loss of parental rights pursuant to Title 30. With family reunification as the goal if possible, PRU works with those attorneys to both defend the parents and help them cooperate with counseling and other services that could give them the skills which might enable them to successfully reunite with their children.

Since the Law Guardian Unit, which represents children in Title 9 and Title 30 cases, is also currently encompassed under the umbrella of the OPD, care is taken to make sure the PRU representation is undertaken and supervised in a manner that avoids any possible conflicts with the Law Guardian Unit. The administration of each office is completely separate, and the bulk of the PRU representation is provided by contracted "pool" attorneys outside of the OPD, with assistance from the PRU investigative and administrative staff.

Several times each year, the PRU office provides timely and relevant mandatory training for all attorneys who provide PRU representation