There is no doubt that New Jersey is faced with a serious drug problem that is only intensifying. At first glance, the Garden State’s statistics can be misleading. In Ocean County, drug-overdose deaths fell from 121 in 2013 to only 86 in 2014. This might suggests drug crime and usage is decreasing. Or, it may […]
New Jersey State Police Using Facebook to Catch Criminals
Social media has completely changed the way our society functions daily. The movement toward this digital age began with the introduction of Facebook in 2004. In a little over 11 years, Facebook has gained 1.4 billion users worldwide. A staggering 47% of all people who use the Internet are on Facebook. Whether or not you […]
Those Who Sacrifice Liberty for Security Deserve Neither
As mentioned in the boater’s rights blog, the New Jersey State Constitution provides the ceiling of our rights, while the United States Constitution provides the floor. Put another way, police in all 50 states cannot violate the rights protected by the federal constitution, while individual states are free to either lock-step with federal constitution case […]
Justice Alito’s Understanding of Search Warrants
This brings us to Alito’s dissent. He begins with some vague language that search warrants are “normally drafted by nonlawyers in the midst and haste of a criminal investigation” and cites to United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 108, 85 S.Ct. 741, 13 L.Ed.2d 684 (1965). However, that quote from Ventresca concerned the quantum […]
Family Illegally Strip Searched By Police
In Doe v. Groody, decided on March 19, 2004, the majority held that it was clearly established that unless a search warrant specifically incorporates a police officer’s sworn statement (the affidavit) made at the time that a warrant is requested, the scope of the warrant may not be broadened by language in the affidavit. The […]
Evidence and Conviction Thrown Out as a Result of Fred Sisto’s Trial Work
I contested a motion to suppress physical evidence in the case of State v. Xiomara Gonzales from January through May of 2011. After the trial court denied my motion, an appeal was taken. On April 6, 2015, the appellate division reversed the trial court’s decision. The result was that Ms. Gonzales’ conviction was thrown out and […]
Changes To Be Made To The Bias Crime Statute
In State v. David T. Pomianek, Jr. , which the New Jersey Supreme Court decided on March 17, 2015, Justice Albin, writing for a unanimous Court, addressed the issue of the constitutionality of N.J.S.A. 2C:16-1(a)(3), a bias-crime statute that allows a jury to convict a defendant even when bias did not motivate the commission of […]
Aggravated Sexual Assault Reversed Conviction
In State v. Luis Santiago, decided on January 28, 2015, the Appellate Division reversed an aggravated sexual assault conviction based on subsection N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(3), because there was no evidence presented that the assault occurred during an assault “on another”. Although the Santiago opinion was unpublished, meaning that it is not binding on lower courts, but […]
S.L.A.P. as an Alternative to Jail
The question that often arises when faced with mandatory imprisonment is whether a labor program can be substituted for jail. The short answer is “no”. N.J.S.A. 2B:19-5 is the law that requires the sheriff “or other authorized officer” of each county in New Jersey to establish a labor assistance program as an alternative to direct […]
Boaters’ Search and Seizure Rights
A friend of mine recently purchased a jet ski and asked whether the police needed reasonable suspicion to stop him on the water, i.e. if the same rule that applies to automobile stops applies to boats and jet skis. The short and surprising answer is “No.” Under New Jersey’s Administrative Code, the police can stop […]
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