State v. S.G. Appellate Docket No.: A-5627-16 Decided May 6, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent unpublished opinion, the New Jersey Appellate Division reviewed whether scientific evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS) presented for the conviction of defendant for sex crimes against children was grounds for a…
State v. Gerena Appellate Docket No.: A-3655-18T2 Decided January 5, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a published opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey ruled that lay witnesses, under the right circumstances, can testify as to the approximate age of children, overturning a Supreme Court ruling from 1916. In…
State v. Juan E. Cruz-Pena Appellate Docket No.: A-3-19 Decided August 4, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether there was a kidnapping under the statute while a sex assault occurred. In State v. Cruz-Pena, defendant was charged in a…
State v. Palao Appellate Docket No.: A-4422-16T4 Decided October 27, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished opinion, the New Jersey Appellate Division reviewed whether the trial court appropriately allowed defendant’s prior bad acts to be admitted in a case of sexual abuse against minors. In State v. Palao,…
State v. Palao Appellate Docket No.: A-4422-16T4 Decided October 27, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished opinion, the New Jersey Appellate Division reviewed whether the trial court appropriately denied defendant’s request to sever separate counts of an indictment for a defendant that was accused of molesting three…
State in the Interest of G.C. Appellate Docket No.: A-1615-18T1 Decided September 2, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent unpublished decision, the Appellate Division reviewed whether evidence contained on defendant’s cell phone used to convict him of sex crimes was properly admitted when defendant was not present at…
State of New Jersey in the Interest of Z.S. Appellate Docket No.: A-3516-19T1 Decided August 18, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent published decision, the Appellate Division reviewed a waiver of a juvenile to be tried as an adult for various sex crimes against a minor. In Z.S.,…
State v. G.E.P. Appellate Docket No.: A-4-19 Decided August 5, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether scientific evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS) presented for the conviction of those accused of sex crimes against children which was…
State v. G.E.P. Appellate Docket No.: A-4-19 Decided August 5, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether scientific evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS) presented for the conviction of those accused of sex crimes against children which was…
In this case the defendant, a senior at a private charter school in Camden city received an Instagram message From the middle school guidance counselor at the same school. The defendant filed a motion to dismiss the prosecution as being “de minimus “ as per N. J. S. A. 2C:2- 11 D and C. STATE…
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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…