Plainfield Project

The Plainfield Project is a fully staffed satellite office established in the City of Plainfield with the ultimate goal being the reduction of crime in the city. The office has sought to improve the relationship between the Plainfield Police Division and the Prosecutor's Office as well as to make the services of the Prosecutor's Office more accessible to the citizens of the city.

The staff of the Plainfield Project provides legal advice and assistance, as well as investigative support to the Police Division on a daily basis. This includes not only the preparation and review of search warrant affidavits and other legal documents that become necessary during investigations, but also the supplying of manpower to police operations and investigations. Furthermore, all criminal matters arising within the City are screened for accuracy and completeness before being forwarded to the county seat for Grand Jury presentation.

The Plainfield Project was responsible for implementing the first "Quality of Life" project in the State, aimed at eliminating notorious open-air drug markets, thereby improving the Quality of Life of the law abiding citizens in the affected neighborhoods.

Lastly, the Plainfield Project has undertaken the responsibility of reinforcing community support and trust of law enforcement. Investigative and Legal Staff members have taken an active role in the Police/Community Partnership Program, the Plainfield Municipal Alliance, and conduct lectures and meetings with business, educational and cultural organizations. Additionally, the Plainfield Project provides assistance to victims and witnesses involved in the criminal process, ranging from explaining the different steps in the process and arranging for transportation to and from court, to making arrangements for counseling and obtaining compensation from the Violent Crimes Compensation Board.

Pre Disposition Unit

In 1986 the Pre Disposition Unitwas established in Union County following the inception of the state wide Speedy Trial Program. The mission of this unit is to identify those cases which may be capable of being resolved prior to presentation to the Grand Jury.

The Unit is staffed by four assistant prosecutors who are responsible for reviewing and assessing the viability of more than 4,000 cases annually. These cases are initiated within the twenty-one Union County municipalities and consist of first, second, third and fourth degree offenses. Approximately fifty percent of these cases are disposed of through the plea negotiation process. Approximately ten percent are diverted into the Pre Trial Intervention Program and roughly twenty percent are administratively dismissed, thereby eliminating the additional costs and manpower required to process these cases through the judicial system.

In compliance with the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, the Unit insures that crime victims, including law enforcement officers, are contacted with the goal of advising them of anticipated dispositions and giving them the opportunity to add their input into the disposition process.

Released Offender Unit

During the latter part of 1994, in response to a package of legislative enactments known as "Megan's Law," the Released Offender Unit was established. The mission of this unit is to insure that released sex offenders are properly registered with appropriate law enforcement agencies pursuant to the statutory mandate. The Unit also coordinates the law enforcement and community notification provisions with regard to these registrants.

Each registrant's criminal history and institution records are reviewed prior to release from his or her correctional institution in order to determine the registrant's risk of re-offense. The registrant will then be assigned to a Tier category which identifies the degree of risk posed to repeat his or her criminal acts. The mandated law enforcement, community organization or full community notification will then be made detailing background information pertaining to the registrant.

The Released Offenders Unit, in cooperation with the Victim Witness Unit, also coordinates notification to crime victims and local law enforcement agencies as to the release of all offenders on bail or following service of their sentences.

The Unit is also responsible for reviewing the institutional records of offenders who have been identified by officials in the Department of Corrections as being persons in need of involuntary commitment. Persons so classified will become the subject of civil involuntary commitment proceedings.

Sex Crimes Squad

The Sex Crimes Squad, within the Major Crimes Unit, assists local law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of incidents of sexual abuse and assault. Specialized training has been afforded to legal staff and investigative staff members of the Unit to familiarize them with the unique aspects of the law enforcement function in these matters.

Special Prosecutions Unit

The Special Prosecutions Unit conducts investigations and prosecutions of "white collar" crimes, offenses against public administration, election law violations, welfare fraud and violations of the Open Public Meetings Act. Many economic crimes involve complex financial matters which may implicate acts of extortion, bribery, kickbacks, payoffs, bid rigging, embezzlement and other deceptive practices.

The Unit is also charged with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting crimes which involve misconduct by those in a position of public trust. The subjects of these matters may include elected or appointed public officials as well as law enforcement officers who misuse their positions and attorneys who misappropriate the funds of their clients.

Trial Unit

Thirteen assistant prosecutors staff six criminal courts to represent the State of New Jersey regarding the prosecution of first, second, third and fourth degree criminal matters. Court proceedings in these matters include arraignments, motions pre trial conferences, trials, sentencing, and post conviction relief issues. All indicted cases are routinely scheduled for pre trial conferences during which approximately ninety to ninety five percent of indicted defendants enter guilty pleas. Normally, the balance of indicted cases go to trial.

The defendants whose cases proceed to trial are most often those who are either charged with the most serious offenses or whose lengthy criminal records preclude any reasonable plea negotiations. Other cases which are tried reflect the Prosecutor's Office policy on specific crimes, namely those crimes which are so sensitive to human dignity that they demand an enhanced degree of public scrutiny through the trial process. Such cases are tried in open court and a jury of citizens residing in Union County decides the ultimate verdict.

The judge who presides over the plea or trial proceeding will also impose sentence. The sentencing of defendants may include recommendations made by an assistant prosecutor on behalf of the State of New Jersey.

Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy

The Crime Victim's Bill of Rights provides that victims and witnesses are entitled to be treated with dignity and compassion by the criminal justice system. The Union County Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy was established to improve the treatment of victims and witnesses and to make participation in the criminal justice system as convenient as possible.

The services we provide respond to a diversity of needs extending from the time immediately following the criminal incident through the entire court and parole process. These services may include crisis counseling, emergency financial assistance, informational and logistical services and are geared toward reducing the inconvenience, trauma and frustration associated with the aftermath of the crime.

The Released Offenders Unit, in cooperation with the Victim Witness Unit, also coordinates notification to crime victims and local law enforcement agencies as to the release of all offenders on bail or following service of their sentences.

Homicide Squad

The Homicide Squad is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of homicides including vehicular homicides. Towards that end, the Squad is staffed with assistant prosecutors and detectives who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The responsibilities of the assistant prosecutors range from overseeing the investigations from inception to presenting the cases to the Grand Jury and to representing the State at trial. Detectives assigned to the Squad assist local law enforcement agencies with the investigation of the homicides. Thereafter, the detectives assist the assistant prosecutors in the preparation of the cases for trial.

Welfare Fraud Section

The Welfare Fraud Section of the Special Prosecutions Unit is staffed by a Prosecutor's Detective and experienced fraud investigators from the Department of Social Services who conduct investigations into alleged or suspected fraudulent receipt of public assistance. The unit also obtains information necessary for the apprehension and prosecution of persons alleged to have deserted dependents receiving public assistance.

The Section compiles the financial evidence, prepares original complaints and presents the cases to the Grand Jury after complaint approval.

During 1999, 524 cases were investigated by Welfare Fraud personnel involving $1,057,165.14 in alleged thefts from various public assistance programs.