New Jersey Criminal Law
Are the police allowed to threaten and actually bring a canine to a motor vehicle stop for a ‘sniff’ of a car?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Our New Jersey Supreme Court decided on July 10, 2017 that New Jersey police can bring a dog to a motor vehicle stop without reasonable suspicion so long as the dog sniff does not prolong the stop beyond the time required to complete the stop’s mission. In…
Read MoreIs a police officer allowed to promise “No Jail” in exchange for cooperation and a ‘voluntary’ statement?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. “If you talk with us and tell us what happened, we will get you counseling and promise you will not go to jail!!!” Is this lawful in New Jersey??? The key to this decision is a defendant’s decision to provide a statement after he was given his Miranda warnings. The…
Read MoreCan Police Bring a Dog to a Motor Vehicle Stop? State of New Jersey v. Dunbar
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark New Jersey Supreme Court decided July 10, 2017 that New Jersey police can bring a dog to a motor vehicle stop without reasonable suspicion so long as the dog sniff does not prolong a good Jetta meant proposed a traffic stop. In the case of State v.…
Read MoreAre the police allowed to strip search me once I am in detention?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In this case the sole issue is whether the police had the appropriate probable cause to conduct a strip search without consent and without a warrant. The facts in this case are pretty straightforward and consistent with a number of motor vehicle stops. The police pulled a…
Read MoreAt Trial, Prosecution Cannot Question a Defendant’s Right to Silence
14-2-3453 State v. Irizarry, N.J. Super. App. Div. (per curiam) (29 pp.) Published by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. A defendant’s right to remain silent during a police interrogation is an integral part of our criminal justice system, granted by our Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This right gives protection for a…
Read MoreNew Expungement Rules Became Effective June 1, 2016
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark The New Jersey legislature has authorized a modified and accelerated expungement procedure for all municipal court charges that have been dismissed by way of trial and or court order. If you are charged with a municipal ordinance, disorderly persons offense, petty disorderly persons offense, your case…
Read MoreAt Trial, Prosecution Cannot Question a Defendant’s Right to Silence
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. 14-2-3453 State v. Irizarry, N.J. Super. App. Div. (per curiam) (29 pp.) A defendant’s right to remain silent during a police interrogation is an integral part of our criminal justice system, granted by our Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This right gives protection for a…
Read MoreAnonymous Tips and Warrant-less Search | New Jersey Criminal Law
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark 14-2-3345 State v. Hunter, N.J. Super. App. Div. (per curiam) (10 pp.) Defendant appealed the denial of his motion to suppress evidence seized during a motor vehicle stop. Police received an anonymous call stating that a man was waiving a handgun in front of bystanders while…
Read MoreWhen Do Criminal Witness Statements Have to be Produced to the State?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. 14-1-3174 State v. Brian Tier, N.J. Sup. Ct. (Timpone, J.) (13 pp.) New Jersey’s Supreme Court recently decided a case regarding criminal witness statements. In the case, the defendant was charged with first-degree kidnapping, N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1, and first-degree criminal attempt to commit murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3 and N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1,…
Read MoreWhat Evidence am I Entitled to When Fighting Pretrial Detention?
Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The Supreme Court of New Jersey has recently clarified what evidence the State has to provide when arguing for a defendant to be detained before trial. The new Criminal Justice Reform Act effective January 1, 2017, allows for pretrial detention of defendants who present a serious risk…
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