When a law enforcement official pulls you over for drinking and driving, you may not want to take a breath test. Many drivers think that when they refuse a breath test, there will not be enough evidence available for a DUI conviction. However, when you refuse to take...
Criminal Defense
How far does the right to remain silent extend?
You probably know that you have the right to remain silent when confronted by officers, but you may not understand how far the right extends. Officers can say and do almost anything they want to try to get you to talk, so you must be on top of things. The ACLU...
Protecting yourself from police misconduct
A Rutgers study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) concluded that minorities stand a greater risk of death from police action than their white counterparts. The research found that police were 2.5 times more likely to kill young...
What makes a search illegal?
The Constitution provides fundamental rights to shield you from overactive police activities. One of the most widely cited examples is the protection against illegal search and seizure. Understanding what makes a search by police illegal may help you assert your...
Racial profiling and traffic stops
New Jersey’s Racial Profiling Policy prohibits police officers from making law enforcement decisions based on ethnicity or race. Having legislation like this in place is only one part of the solution, however, because even though racially-motivated traffic stops are...
Recreational marijuana growing pains see calls for reform
New Jersey residents voted to legalize marijuana on November 3rd, 2020. Since then, New Jersey policymakers have had to tackle the task of creating the new legislation around marijuana legalization. This includes the seed-to-sale oversight to adequately monitor the...
How should I act when police come with a warrant?
A couple of police officers knocking at your door is likely to frighten you. You may wonder if they suspect you of a crime and have come to search your home or arrest you. If the police do come to your residence, they cannot simply barge into your home. They must have...
What can you do when police are at your door?
Though you learn to trust law enforcement when growing up, as an adult it is easier to understand that the world is not so black and white. While law enforcement agents often help people, you should still understand where to draw the line when protecting your own...
Why do people make false confessions?
You probably know about your constitutional right to remain silent when questioned by police. You have no obligation to confess to any crime. It is up to law enforcement to prove your guilt. Unfortunately, some people admit to a crime while questioned by police. Why...
Do you qualify for New Jersey drug court?
New Jersey has a drug court program designed to keep offenders out of the criminal justice system and free from illegal substances. You may be eligible as a resident of Essex County who faces charges related to a diagnosis of substance use disorder. Review the...