The state has a high standard of evidence to meet in a criminal case. If criminal charges go to trial, the prosecutor must have evidence to support their claims of intentional criminal activity. They must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant broke the...
Criminal bail reform in the United States has been at the forefront of discussions about fairness and justice in the legal system for decades. Historically, a reliance on cash bail created disparities wherein wealthy defendants could secure release while lower-income...
Many people who insist they did not break the law find themselves facing criminal charges. They typically have to enter a plea either admitting that they broke the law or insisting that they didn't. The case may go to trial if they plead not guilty. Those facing a...
Police officers in New Jersey perform a very challenging job. They need to deter and investigate crime whenever possible, while making every reasonable effort not to violate anyone's civil rights. Unfortunately, some officers let prior experiences or personal biases...
If you are accused of a crime in New Jersey, you need to know if you will have an opportunity to pay bail and await hearings and your trial at home or if you will need to stay in jail. Depending on the kind of offense you’re accused of committing, it’s possible that...
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects you from an illegal search and seizure. However, it applies to searches where you have a legitimate expectation of privacy in the possession or place searched. If there is no such reasonable expectation of...
In the wake of “Black Lives Matter” and other movements, it’s easy to believe that racial profiling has received so much unwanted and negative scrutiny that police departments would firmly shy away from it. However, that’s hardly the case. It’s been more than 20 years...
Most people (rightfully so) associate kidnapping with situations where the victim is abducted and held for some kind of ransom. However, New Jersey law also broadly defines kidnapping as any situation where someone is abducted or confined to: Facilitate some other...
Crime rates throughout New Jersey vary considerably by city and even by neighborhood. Police agencies use the data compiled from these areas to determine where to use more resources in crime deterrence efforts. These analyses often lead police to boost their patrols...
Most people have heard of hate crime laws. Here in New Jersey, we have a crime that’s called “bias intimidation,” which is our version of a hate crime charge. A person needs to commit an underlying offense to be charged with bias intimidation. For example, recently a...
