Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Jake Hudnut is the new municipal prosecutor in Jersey City. He and the man who appointed him, Mayor Steve Fulop, have decided to get out in front of the marijuana debate. Effective Thursday, they are decriminalizing it, allowing possession of small amounts and discreet use. “We…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. A suburban courtroom may seem an unlikely venue for a lifesaving decision. But Angel Nelke’s recovery from opioid abuse began when she appeared before a Gloucester Township judge three years ago on a shoplifting charge. She was told a drug and alcohol counselor was available to…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. With demand for medical marijuana surging in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy in July called for a doubling of the state’s program, from six dispensaries to as many as 12. The state Department of Health received 146 applications for those six additional medical marijuana providers. But under…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. On August 29, 2018 the New Jersey state AG’s office issued guidelines for municipal court prosecutors to follow with regards to prosecuting/negotiating and or dismissing marijuana cases in the municipal court. I have attached a copy of those guidelines here with this blog however I summarize the…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark A New Jersey business does not have to waive its requirement for mandatory drug testing for a worker who uses medical marijuana, a federal court has ruled. Daniel Cotto Jr. of Bridgeton had sued Ardagh Glass citing the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination after the company wouldn’t…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. On January 19, 2015, at about noon, Long Branch Detective Joseph Spitale went to Chelsea Avenue and the railroad tracks on a report that “they were selling heroin.”During the investigation, Spitale was a passenger in an undercover police car accompanied by three other officers. Spitale saw…
State v. Evans Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. On January 4, 2012, Officer Felipe Laboy of the Vineland Police Department started his evening shift with creating a list of outstanding warrants in the area. One of the suspects on the warrant list was defendant Robert L. Evans. The defendant was on the…
Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. On May 30, 2013 three officers from Edison Township were conducting a drug distribution investigation. The officers received a tip from a confidential informant (CI) about the defendant selling drugs from his hotel room. The police conducted surveillance of the scene and confirmed te CI’s description…
I applied for mandatory drug court in New Jersey and the prosecutor objected to my participation ruling that I was a “significant threat to the community”. I do not want to go to jail, have a drug problem and want to participate in drug court. How can I get into the program? Submitted by New…
Am I entitled to drug court? What are the benefits of drug court? Submitted by New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. New Jersey drug court statute is identified at NJSA 2C:35-14 and is a rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol dependent persons subject to a presumption of incarceration or a mandatory NJSA minimum period of…
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New Jersey Survivors Justice Act: Sentencing Reform for Abuse Victims
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In January 2026, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a pair of bills known as the Survivors Justice Act (S-4870/A-5968 and S-4871/A-5969). This landmark legislation, championed by Senator Angela V. McKnight, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, and other lawmakers, amends the state’s criminal code to allow courts…