Do I have to spend the entire six months in jail if I am convicted of driving while suspended for a second or greater time during a DWI suspension?

April 15, 2018 |

The New Jersey appellate division, in an approved for publication decision, ruled the trial court does not have any discretion to allow a defendant to show up for “nightly incarceration”. The appellate division affirmed the legislature’s mandate of a fixed term of 180 days for the 4th° offense without parole eligibility. In this case the…

What is the penalty for an illegal search of my car?

April 11, 2018 |

If the police search my car what happens at a “Suppression” hearing? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The New Jersey Supreme Court Ruled:  In  a blog I wrote yesterday the court ruled the Ocean County/Lakewood NJ police preformed an illegal search of a defendant’s car.  Now that the court ruled the search was illegal…

Can the police search my car before they get a warrant?

April 11, 2018 |

Can the police pull me over for no reason and get a search warrant to search my car, belongings bag, and other items after the fact? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The New Jersey Supreme Court Ruled: “Search warrants are prospective in nature — they authorize the taking of action. A later-obtained…

Can the police draw or take blood from me in the hospital if I was in a crash and was unconscious?

March 29, 2018 |

Do the police need a warrant to take blood from me in a hospital setting after a car crash? State v. Zalcberg The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a ruling firmed up and extended the excuses police need for obtaining a blood draw from a defendant in a DWI homicide crash investigation without a warrant!!!…

Can police walk up and search me based on an anonymous tip?

March 25, 2018 |

What do the police need to do to verify any anonymous tip or “crimestoppers” call? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. This case addresses what the police need to confirm any anonymous phone call to a crimestoppers hotline regarding a person committing a crime.  In this case a ‘Crime-Stoppers’ call came in about…

Can the police search my bag in the Police Department? The Legality of an Inventory Search

March 16, 2018 |

The police went through my pocketbook without reading me my Miranda rights were “arresting me“ are they allowed to do that? Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. This important aspect of this case has to do with whether a “inventory search” which took  place with this defendant when she was brought to a…

Lindenwold Man Charged With Sexual Assault and Manufacturing Child Pornography – March 8, 2018

March 9, 2018 |

Mikael Carter, an 18-year-old Lindenwold resident, has been charged with Luring a Minor to Commit Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault according to the Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colallilo and Lindenwold Police Chief Thomas Brennan. Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. He was also charged with Manufacturing Child Pornography, Endangering the Welfare…

FBI’s Use of Paid Best Buy Informants Goes Deeper Than We Knew

March 8, 2018 |

Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Questions were raised last year about whether FBI agents were actively recruiting technicians at Best Buy’s Geek Squad to search for illegal content on customer devices. According to newly released documents, however, prior reports only scratched the surface: Best Buy’s ties with the FBI appear more…

Appealing Denial into PTI (Pretrial Intervention) – STATE OF NEW JERSEY v. U.S.G.

March 7, 2018 |

Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In this PTI case the appellate panel ruled that the county prosecutor’s office abused their discretion when it denied this defendant admission into their PTI program.  PTI is Pretrial Intervention. Have you been denied PTI? Are you entitled to PTI? Will the criminal charge and possible criminal…

I was denied PTI! I want to appeal! How do I do it and how can I win?

March 5, 2018 |

What do you need to tell a judge, “Let me into PTI over the Prosecutor’s Objection!”  I need PTI so I do not loose my job! Submitted by New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. ISSUES: The key to this case is the fact that the defense attorney presented as much information regarding his client’s current and past life…