In the recent case of State vs. P.A.C. New Jersey courts have explicitly held that “engag[ing] in three or more drug sales does not in and of itself make [one’s] conduct a ‘repetitive criminal activity.’” State v. P.A.C., ___N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2011) and as a result the prosecutor’s denial of Defendant’s PTI application constitutes legal error that is tantamount to a patent and gross abuse of discretion. This is a huge development for individuals who (a) do not have a criminal record, (b) are charged with possession of CDS and or possession of CDS with intent to distribute as a result of small drug purchases in drug zones. This recent change inthe law is a substantial development which will aid defendants avoid prosecution and get into alternative recovery programs much more easily.
Legal Developments
That Affect You
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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…