Thursday, October 30, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Leaving scene property damage 39:4-129b
Leaving scene property damage 39:4-129b
(b)The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle, including his own vehicle, or other property which is attended by any person shall immediately stop his vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible, but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (c) of this section. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. Any person who shall violate this subsection shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $400, or be imprisoned for a period of not more than 30 days, or both, for the first offense, and for a subsequent offense, shall be fined not less than $400 nor more than $600, or be imprisoned for a period of not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days or both.
In addition, a person who violates this subsection shall, for a first offense, forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle in this State for a period of six months from the date of conviction, and for a period of one year from the date of conviction for any subsequent offense.
(c)The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person or damage to any vehicle or property shall give his name and address and exhibit his operator's license and registration certificate of his vehicle to the person injured or whose vehicle or property was damaged and to any police officer or witness of the accident, and to the driver or occupants of the vehicle collided with and render to a person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying of that person to a hospital or a physician for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that the treatment is necessary or is requested by the injured person.
In the event that none of the persons specified are in condition to receive the information to which they otherwise would be entitled under this subsection, and no police officer is present, the driver of any vehicle involved in such accident after fulfilling all other requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, insofar as possible on his part to be performed, shall forthwith report such accident to the nearest office of the local police department or of the county police of the county or of the State Police and submit thereto the information specified in this subsection.
(d)The driver of any vehicle which knowingly collides with or is knowingly involved in an accident with any vehicle or other property which is unattended resulting in any damage to such vehicle or other property shall immediately stop and shall then and there locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle or other property of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or other property or, in the event an unattended vehicle is struck and the driver or owner thereof cannot be immediately located, shall attach securely in a conspicuous place in or on such vehicle a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle doing the striking or, in the event other property is struck and the owner thereof cannot be immediately located, shall notify the nearest office of the local police department or of the county police of the county or of the State Police and in addition shall notify the owner of the property as soon as the owner can be identified and located. Any person who violates this subsection shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(e)There shall be a permissive inference that the driver of any motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person or damage in the amount of $250.00 or more to any vehicle or property has knowledge that he was involved in such accident.
For purposes of this section, it shall not be a defense that the operator of the motor vehicle was unaware of the existence or extent of personal injury or property damage caused by the accident as long as the operator was aware that he was involved in an accident.
There shall be a permissive inference that the registered owner of the vehicle which was involved in an accident subject to the provisions of this section was the person involved in the accident; provided, however, if that vehicle is owned by a rental car company or is a leased vehicle, there shall be a permissive inference that the renter or authorized driver pursuant to a rental car contract or the lessee, and not the owner of the vehicle, was involved in the accident, and the requirements and penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be applicable to that renter or authorized driver or lessee and not the owner of the vehicle.
Any person who suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of a violation of this section or who suppresses the identity of the violator shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250 or more than $1,000.
(b)The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle, including his own vehicle, or other property which is attended by any person shall immediately stop his vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible, but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (c) of this section. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. Any person who shall violate this subsection shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $400, or be imprisoned for a period of not more than 30 days, or both, for the first offense, and for a subsequent offense, shall be fined not less than $400 nor more than $600, or be imprisoned for a period of not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days or both.
In addition, a person who violates this subsection shall, for a first offense, forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle in this State for a period of six months from the date of conviction, and for a period of one year from the date of conviction for any subsequent offense.
(c)The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person or damage to any vehicle or property shall give his name and address and exhibit his operator's license and registration certificate of his vehicle to the person injured or whose vehicle or property was damaged and to any police officer or witness of the accident, and to the driver or occupants of the vehicle collided with and render to a person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying of that person to a hospital or a physician for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that the treatment is necessary or is requested by the injured person.
In the event that none of the persons specified are in condition to receive the information to which they otherwise would be entitled under this subsection, and no police officer is present, the driver of any vehicle involved in such accident after fulfilling all other requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, insofar as possible on his part to be performed, shall forthwith report such accident to the nearest office of the local police department or of the county police of the county or of the State Police and submit thereto the information specified in this subsection.
(d)The driver of any vehicle which knowingly collides with or is knowingly involved in an accident with any vehicle or other property which is unattended resulting in any damage to such vehicle or other property shall immediately stop and shall then and there locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle or other property of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or other property or, in the event an unattended vehicle is struck and the driver or owner thereof cannot be immediately located, shall attach securely in a conspicuous place in or on such vehicle a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle doing the striking or, in the event other property is struck and the owner thereof cannot be immediately located, shall notify the nearest office of the local police department or of the county police of the county or of the State Police and in addition shall notify the owner of the property as soon as the owner can be identified and located. Any person who violates this subsection shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(e)There shall be a permissive inference that the driver of any motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to any person or damage in the amount of $250.00 or more to any vehicle or property has knowledge that he was involved in such accident.
For purposes of this section, it shall not be a defense that the operator of the motor vehicle was unaware of the existence or extent of personal injury or property damage caused by the accident as long as the operator was aware that he was involved in an accident.
There shall be a permissive inference that the registered owner of the vehicle which was involved in an accident subject to the provisions of this section was the person involved in the accident; provided, however, if that vehicle is owned by a rental car company or is a leased vehicle, there shall be a permissive inference that the renter or authorized driver pursuant to a rental car contract or the lessee, and not the owner of the vehicle, was involved in the accident, and the requirements and penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be applicable to that renter or authorized driver or lessee and not the owner of the vehicle.
Any person who suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of a violation of this section or who suppresses the identity of the violator shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250 or more than $1,000.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
HANDLING A JUVENILE DELIQUENCY CASE
HANDLING A JUVENILE DELIQUENCY CASE
By: Kenneth A. Vercammen
Handling juvenile delinquency cases is becoming a sub-specialty that
requires special knowledge of the juvenile justice system. Juvenile cases are difficult to handle for
different reasons:
(1) The
juveniles often refuse to admit to their attorney any participation in the
offense despite clear guilt.
(2) The parents
sometimes refuse to acknowledge their child's involvement.
(3) Different
rules and court systems are involved.
When the client is first in the office, we have him fill out the
Confidential New Criminal Case Interview Sheet.
We obtain background information such as their name, address, the
offenses charged, date of the person's arrest, other witnesses, statements
given to them by the police, their occupation and information regarding prior
criminal convictions. Our interview
sheet also asks if there is anything else important. The extent to which the client fills out the
form lets us know whether or not the client will follow instructions and
cooperate with us.
After reviewing the complaint and the interview sheet, I ask a series of
questions of the client. We request the client wait until the end of the
interview before explaining their side of the story. We also ask them if there is anything else of
importance in connection with the case that we should know. The client may have pending serious criminal
charges in another state or county. I
usually open up our statute book and show the clients the specific language of
the offense they are charged with and explain to them the maximum penalties
that could be imposed. By understanding
the charges they are facing, my clients are more likely to realize the
seriousness of the offense and pay our retainer. The ABA adopted Rules of Professional Conduct
indicate a retainer letter or written statement of fees is required for new
clients. I also provide all my clients
with a brochure explaining how to appear in court, a brochure on surcharges, a
brochure on points, and a brochure regarding alcohol counseling/substance abuse
treatment, if applicable.
I recommend that my clients provide me with a list of between 10 to 15
reasons why they should not go to jail and why the court should impose the
minimum license suspension. This provides
us with information for mitigation and penalties and also provides information
to be considered by the judge in sentencing.
I.
WHO IS THE CLIENT?
The client must be the juvenile charged.
It is not the parent or grandmother who pays the bills. It is important to preserve the confidence of
the client. I let the juvenile know that
they can call us whenever they want, and we will not tell their parents
anything told in confidence.
Discovery in non-motor vehicle cases is requested in writing to the
County
Prosecutor, not the town Municipal Prosecutor.
Motor vehicle charges alone are heard by the Municipal Court Judge and
handled by the Municipal Prosecutor.
Trial Call is the next appearance and the defense counsel will receive
discovery, if it has not previously been received. Applicable motions should be filed prior to
the trial call: Motion to Suppress,
Compel Additional Discovery, Dismiss Complaint, etc.
Juveniles have
most of the same rights under the Constitution as adults:
- 4th Amendment - No unreasonable searches
- 5th Amendment - Right to Remain Silent
- 6th Amendment - Right to Attorney
- 6th Amendment - Right to Cross Examine
Witnesses
Unlike adults, juveniles do not have a right
to a jury trial and do not have to post bail.
It
is a popular misconception that juvenile arrests are automatically erased when
the juvenile turns 18. The criminal
"charge", even if later dismissed, stays on their record forever
unless they have their attorney file a formal petition for Expungement.
Once
we receive our retainer, we begin work right away. Usually while the client is
still in the office, we prepare a discovery letter on the computer to the
prosecutor and court and hand a copy to the client. We occasionally call the court to advise them
that we will be handling the case.
Law is a business. I try to
impress my clients and hope that they will send additional clients.
II.
POST INTERVIEW PREPARATION
We also make a Motion to Suppress where there is a question regarding the
validity of a stop or search. New Jersey
will also permit you to make a Motion to Dismiss on De Minimis Infractions for
non-substantial offenses (i.e. shoplifting one candy bar). Any other Motions to Dismiss should be made
in writing such as statute of limitations or lack of jurisdiction.
Oftentimes
in cases that deal with just one triable issue such as the admissibility of a
blood test result regarding alcohol or drugs, you can make a Motion in Limine
or suggest a pre-trial conference. It is
often a good idea to try to have the judge decide a crucial issue by motion in
order to save you a six-hour trial.
III.
ADDITIONAL DISCOVERY PHASE
Upon receiving discovery, we
forward a photocopy of all discovery to our client. We then discuss with the client whether or
not we have a reasonable prospect of winning.
In the case involving essential witnesses, we may write to the witnesses
and ask them to call us so that we can find out what really happened. If
possible I have a law clerk call up after we send the initial letter. The attorney could not testify if the witness
provides an inconsistent statement but our law clerks could testify. I sometimes speak to the witness myself later
to make a decision to determine whether or not the witnesses are credible. You must protect yourself from looking like a
fool. Oftentimes the clients are not
telling the truth and the witnesses are not telling the truth.
IV. PREPARING FOR TRIAL
If
it is a drug case, we may make an objection to the entry of the lab certificate
as evidence at trial. We are also under
a responsibility to provide any reciprocal discovery to the prosecutor. Occasionally, we will call the prosecutor
ahead of time to see if a matter can be worked out or plea bargained. In a rare, more serious case the Prosecutor can file a motion
to have the case transferred to the adult superior court
THE OFFENSE AND
ARREST
Police are permitted to arrest if they see a crime or are provided with
information that a juvenile committed a crime.
The police then sign a Complaint Form, which later is forwarded to the
Superior Court, Family Part, in the county where the juvenile lives. Generally, the juvenile will be released to
the custody of parents or guardians.
Rule 5:21-5. A person is a juvenile for delinquency purposes until
his/her 18th birthday. For
serious crimes, if the juvenile is a threat to themselves or the community, or
if the juvenile is a habitual offender, they can be brought to the County
Juvenile Detention Center. They will
remain in detention until released by the Superior Court Judge at a recall
hearing, after a probable cause hearing or at the conclusion of the case. It is rare and serious when a juvenile is
held at the Detention Center.
MIRANDA WARNING
AND CONFESSIONS
Police must provide Miranda Warning to juveniles. Parents/guardians do not have to be present
for police questioning. If a confession
is sought and you need to try and preclude the admission of a confession, the
issue will be whether the waiver of Miranda Warning was "knowing and
voluntary" by the juvenile.
Caselaw indicates both juveniles and even retarded citizens can waive
their right to remain silent.
DIVERSION OF
CRIMINAL CHARGES
In many counties, the
County Prosecutor's office screens each complaint initially, but staff within
the Family Court can make the decision to divert the case or not. Diversion for many cases means removing them
from court altogether and sending them for total handling to a Juvenile
Conference Committee (J.C.C.) or intake service conference. See the Criminal Justice System, "Guide
for School Personnel," Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, p. 20 (1996).
The first rung on the diversion ladder is the Juvenile Conference
Committee (J.C.C.), which is a town-based group of citizens who work with the
juvenile offender to devise an appropriate resolution of the case. Rule 5:25-1.
Citizen members are appointed to recommend to the court how to handle
selected juvenile cases. Members meet
with the juveniles and make recommendations, which may include restitution,
participation in a job placement or community service program, counseling, or
other conditions.
For juveniles with prior charges or more serious charges, the case is put
on the formal trial calendar. These
proceedings resemble adult criminal proceedings. The juvenile must be
represented by an attorney and the state is represented by an Assistant Prosecutor.
In a "deferred adjudication" the judge may direct the juvenile
to perform a job, write an essay, be on unsupervised probation, or direct other
requirements. The juvenile must earn
dismissal by fulfilling conditions such as restitution, community service,
counseling, or school attendance.
FORMAL TRIAL
If the case goes to trial, the judge serves as the fact-finder and makes
all decisions, unlike adult court where those charged can have a jury
trial. The trial is held before a
Superior Court Judge in the county where the juvenile resides. Rule 5:19-1.
Another major difference in juvenile cases is that the prosecutor does
not make binding sentencing recommendations as part of a plea bargain. The judge has total discretion regarding the
sentence imposed. If the juvenile pleads
guilty or is found delinquent (guilty), the judge has the discretion on
sentence - deferred adjudication, probation, incarceration, residential
placement, restitution, fine, etc.
Criminal Justice System, supra at 21.
Relatively few juveniles are currently incarcerated but the number may
increase as legislative changes require jail terms for juveniles who commit
certain offenses such as auto thefts and for juveniles who continue to commit
more and more heinous offenses.
For the most serious crimes, the County Prosecutor can make a motion to
remove to the Adult Criminal Court. Rule
5:22-1, Rule 5:22-2.
FIRST
APPEARANCE IN FORMAL TRIAL CASES
The Court itself will send a copy of the Complaint to the juvenile's
parents and a Mandatory Notice to Appear for an Interview for Public Defender
Eligibility. The Public Defender handles only indigent cases, juveniles whose
parents are on welfare, unemployed, and have no assets.
This mandatory appearance is unnecessary once the client retains an
attorney and the attorney sends in a Notice of Appearance.
THE TRIAL
Interview
witnesses to determine if they will be credible and help your client. Serve
your subpoenas on witnesses in sufficient time prior to trial. Have your legal
research done prior to trial, such as on constructive possession of drugs or
stolen property.
V. PLEA TO A LESSER DEFENSE
If the client is going to enter a guilty plea to any offense, it is
important that they understand what the offense is and put a factual basis on
the record. You will be embarrassed if
your client is pleading guilty to a drunk driving case and the judge asked your
client what he had to drink, the client insists he only had one beer. The judge will send you back to your seat and
must refuse to take the guilty plea unless an adequate factual basis is put on
the record. Having previously obtained
for my client their favorable background, I usually put on the record reasons
why the judge should give them the minimum penalties.
Most states, such as New Jersey have a conditional discharge, pre-trial
intervention, or other programs that are available to clients charged with drug
offenses who have never previously been arrested or previously been convicted
of the drug offense. Again, to avoid
embarrassment, it is a good idea to speak with the prosecutor and the police
officer because they may have a criminal abstract to indicate that the client
is not eligible for a conditional discharge type program. Letters of reference and character reference
letters are helpful in cases where the judge has wide discretion in his
sentencing. After the client pleads
guilty, it is a good idea to also ask the client on the record if he has any
questions of myself or of the court.
IMPORTANT LAWS
MOST JUVENILES DON'T KNOW ABOUT
Assault: Any assault committed against any teacher,
school board employee, school board member, or school administrator is an
aggravated assault. NJSA 2C:12-1 et seq.
Graffiti: Penalties were increased for graffiti, and
include driver's license loss for juveniles, P.L. 1995 c. 251. Amends NJSA 2C:17-3 (Criminal mischief and
other statutes). In the case of a person
who at the time of the imposition of sentence is less than 17 years of age, the
period of the suspension of driving privileges authorized herein, including a
suspension of the privilege of operating a motorized bicycle, shall commence on
the day the sentence is imposed and shall run for a period of one year after
the day the person reaches the age of 17 years.
If the driving privilege of any person is under revocation, suspension,
or postponement for a violation of any provision of this Title or Title 39 of
the Revised Statutes at the time of any conviction or adjudication of
delinquency for a violation of any offense defined in this section, the
revocation, suspension, or postponement period imposed herein shall commence as
of the date of termination of the existing revocation, suspension, or
postponement. Any person convicted of
criminal mischief involving graffiti may be required to pay to the owner
monetary restitution and perform community service and remove graffiti.
Drugs: Sample Mandatory Penalties for Juvenile -
Possession of Small
Amounts of Marijuana:
-Suspension of
Driver's License: 2C:35-16 Six months to two years from date of
sentence.
-DEDR Penalty
$500 required under NJSA 2C:35-15a. This
$500 penalty is required even in juvenile cases, as required by statute. State
in
Intent of
LM 22
NJ Super 88, (App. Div. 88)
court denied 114 NJ 485
(1989)
-Drug Lab Fee
$50 2C:35-20a
-VCCB $50
according to 2C:43-3.1a(2)(o)
-Safe Streets -
Fee due upon conviction, PTI or CD $75
About the
Author:
Kenneth A.
Vercammen is a trial attorney in Metuchen, Middlesex
County, New Jersey. Kenneth
Vercammen was selected one of only three attorneys as a Super Lawyer 2007-2008
in NJ Monthly in the Criminal - DWI. Kenneth Vercammen was the NJ State Bar
Municipal Court Attorney of the Year and past president of the Middlesex County
Municipal Prosecutor's Association.
He is the past chair of the NJ State Bar
Association Municipal Court Section. He is the Deputy chair of the ABA Criminal
Law committee, GP Division.
KENNETH VERCAMMEN ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave. Edison, NJ 08817
732-572-0500
NJ LAWS LEGAL WEBSITE: www.njlaws.com
Criminal website www.BeNotGuilty.com
He has lectured on traffic and criminal law for the New Jersey State Bar
Association, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and Middlesex
County College. He often lectures for
the New Jersey State Bar Association on personal injury, criminal /municipal
court law and drunk driving. He has
published 125 articles in national and New Jersey publications on municipal
court and litigation topics. He has served as a Special Acting Prosecutor in
seven different cities and towns in New Jersey and also successfully defended
hundreds of individuals facing Municipal Court and Criminal Court charges.
In his private practice, he has devoted a substantial portion of his
professional time to the preparation and trial of litigated matters. He has appeared in Courts throughout New
Jersey several times each week on many personal injury matters, Municipal Court
trials, matrimonial hearings and contested administrative law hearings.
Since 1985, his primary concentration has been on litigation matters.
Mr. Vercammen
gained other legal experiences as the Confidential Law Clerk to the Court of
Appeals of Maryland (Supreme Court),with the Delaware County, PA District
Attorney Office handling Probable Cause Hearings, Middlesex County Probation Dept as a
Probation Officer, and an Executive Assistant to Scranton District Magistrate,
Thomas Hart, in Scranton, PA.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
State In the Interest of V.A. makes it more difficult for prosecutors to send juvenile cases to adult court
State In the
Interest of V.A. makes it more difficult for prosecutors to send juvenile cases to adult court
Decided
September 12, 2012
lavecchia, J.,
writing for a majority of the Court.
In these appeals,
the Court considers the standard governing judicial review of a prosecutor’s
decision to waive certain juveniles into adult criminal court.
Under N.J.S.A.
2A:4A-26, the prosecutor may, in his discretion, file a motion to waive a
juvenile charged with certain enumerated offenses into adult criminal court. In
2000, the Legislature amended N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-26 to eliminate the
opportunity for juveniles aged sixteen and over to present rehabilitation
evidence to defeat waiver. Once the State has established probable cause that
the juvenile committed an enumerated offense, waiver is required. Thus, the
Legislature vested the prosecutor’s office with the primary responsibility for
waiver decisions regarding such juveniles. The Legislature directed the
Attorney General to issue guidelines to ensure uniform application of this
prosecutorial discretion and thereby eliminate arbitrariness or abuse of
discretionary power. The Attorney General promulgated “Juvenile Waiver
Guidelines,” which provided that the prosecutor must weigh the following
factors when determining whether to file a juvenile waiver motion: “Nature of
the Offense,” “Deterrence,” “Effect on Co-Defendants,” “Maximum Sentence and
Length of Time Served,” “Prior Record,” “Trial Considerations,” and “Victim’s
Input.” A written statement of reasons containing an account of all factors
considered and deemed applicable must be submitted with the motion for waiver.
In connection with
an attack on Omar Estrada, juveniles V.A., M.R., and C.T., all sixteen years
old or older, were charged with offenses enumerated in N.J.S.A.
2A:4A-26. The State filed waiver motions for the juveniles and submitted a
statement of reasons for each juvenile. The statements were virtually identical
to one another with the exception of their prior records. For nature of the
offense, the State described all participants’ actions in one narrative,
providing considerable detail about the juveniles’ actions leading up to,
during, and after the assault. In addressing deterrence, the State provided:
“The need to deter the juvenile and others from engaging in this sort of
activity is abundantly clear.” Regarding the effect that waiver will have on
co-defendants, the State asserted that defendants should be tried together in
adult court “[i]n the interests of judicial efficacy and parity in sentencing.”
For the maximum sentence factor, the State noted that each youth would face a maximum
of ten years if adjudicated as a juvenile and forty years, subject to the No
Early Release Act (NERA), if convicted as an adult. The juveniles’ prior
records were recounted in individualized fashion and, for trial considerations,
the State provided that there is a strong likelihood of indictment and
conviction, and noted the seriousness of the crime committed and the need for
adequate punishment. Finally, the prosecutor stated for each juvenile that the
“[victim supports this application.”
The Family Court
determined that probable cause existed for enumerated offenses charged but
concluded that the prosecutor’s decision to waive the juveniles constituted a
patent and gross abuse of discretion. The court therefore denied the State’s
motions for waiver. The Appellate Division reversed, concluding that the
State’s decision to seek waiver did not constitute a patent and gross abuse of
discretion. State ex rel. V.A., 420 N.J. Super. 302 (App. Div.
2011). The panel remanded for the entry of orders waiving V.A., M.R., and C.T.
to adult court. The Court granted V.A., M.R., and C.T. leave to appeal. 208 N.J.
334 (2011); 208 N.J. 384 (2011).
HELD: The abuse of discretion
standard, rather than the patent and gross abuse of discretion standard,
governs judicial review of a prosecutor’s decision to waive a juvenile aged
sixteen and over charged with an enumerated offense under N.J.S.A.
2A:4A-26 into adult criminal court.
1. Shortly after
the 2000 amendments to the juvenile waiver statute, in State ex rel. R.C.,
351 N.J. Super. 248 (App. Div. 2002), the Appellate Division concluded
that the patent and gross abuse of discretion standard applicable to a
prosecutor’s refusal to consent to a defendant’s admission into a Pretrial
Intervention (PTI) program also governs the review of a prosecutor’s motion to
waive a sixteen-year-old juvenile charged with an enumerated offense into adult
court. The Court has not squarely addressed this question.
2. Although
generous deference must be allotted to prosecutors in light of the 2000
amendments, the Court has embraced the abuse of discretion standard as a
generous deference to prosecutorial actions. The Court has applied the abuse of
discretion standard when the prosecutorial determination visits on the
individual a harsher set of circumstances, rather than the denial or conferral
of a benefit. The latter circumstance is what is at stake in the PTI context.
More fundamentally, however, the charging process generally, and at work in a
PTI determination, is an inherently prosecutorial function and is the reason
for greater deference. In the circumstances presented here, without the
prosecutor’s motion to the juvenile court, the juvenile remains in that venue
for any charges that are brought.
3. The
discretionary prosecutorial decision at issue here places the juvenile at risk
of enhanced punishment. In State v. Lagares, 127 N.J. 20 (1992),
the Court applied an abuse of discretion standard to a prosecutor’s
discretionary decision to seek a mandatory extended-term sentence. In light of
the enhanced punishment looming as a result of the prosecutor’s waiver decision
here, the Court finds that the abuse of discretion standard utilized in Lagares
is more appropriate. Lagares imposed a “heavy” abuse of discretion
standard to be carried by a defendant seeking to avoid a prosecutor’s
application for an extended term made in compliance with guidelines issued.
Here, the Court imposes a similar abuse of discretion standard to be met when
the family court reviews the prosecutor’s waiver decision made in connection
with the juvenile waiver Guidelines. As in Lagares, a juvenile must show
clearly and convincingly that a prosecutor abused his or her discretion in order
to secure relief. An abuse of discretion review does not allow the court to
substitute its judgment for the prosecutor’s; it is appropriately deferential
to the prosecutor’s decision to seek waiver while furthering the goal of
uniform application by providing an additional level of protection against
arbitrariness in a critical decision affecting the quantity and quality of
punishment for a juvenile.
4. To ensure a
meaningful review under the abuse of discretion standard, the prosecutor’s statement
of reasons must evidence that the prosecutor actually considered each Guideline
factor for each particular juvenile. The prosecutor’s statement of reasons must
provide enough of a fact-based explanation to support the conclusion that the
factor supports waiver. Cursory or conclusory statements as justification for
waiver will not suffice to allow the court to perform its review because such
statements provide no meaningful explanation of the prosecutor’s reasoning.
Here, the statements of reasons sufficiently explained the nature of the
offenses; presented sufficient individualized information about the youths’
past records; and provided minimal but nonetheless individualized information
on the effect on co-defendants, maximum sentence, trial considerations, and
victim’s input. However, the State’s explanations on deterrence are clearly
deficient to permit review. The deterrence factor was addressed with a curt
statement, announced in conclusory fashion, that “[t]he need to deter the
juvenile and others from engaging in this sort of activity is abundantly
clear.” That explanation failed to explain how deterrence of the particular
individual, and of others generally, is served by waiving each of these
juveniles to adult criminal proceedings. Therefore, the statements of reasons
require a more full explanation of the deterrence assessment of the three
juveniles.
The judgment of
the Appellate Division is reversed in respect of the standard of review
to be applied and the matter is remanded for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
See also Trying juveniles as
adults will become tougher, N.J. Supreme Court ruleshttp://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/trying_juveniles_as_adults_wil.html— Prosecutors must meet a tougher test
before they can try juveniles as adults, giving younger offenders more power to
avoid being sent to prison, the state Supreme Court ruled today.
In a 3-2
decision, the court also said prosecutors must explain why trying a juvenile as
an adult would better deter that person, as well as others, from committing
future crimes.
Juvenile
justice advocates hailed the decision as an acknowledgement of the negative
consequences of putting young offenders in prison with adult criminals.
They said
imprisoning young people as adults creates a permanent criminal record, which
makes it difficult for offenders to get a job or take out a loan. The advocates
also said juveniles in adult facilities are more likely to commit suicide or be
physically and sexually abused.
Attorney
Laura Cohen, who joined the case on behalf of more than two dozen state and
national advocacy organizations and individuals, said the ruling was
"enormous."
"They
have to take a hard look at the young person and ask, ‘We know in most cases
transfer to the adult system won’t deter future crime, but will it deter in
this case?’" Cohen said.
The state
Attorney General’s Office, which supported the Middlesex Prosecutor’s Office’s
contention that four juveniles deserved to be tried as adults because of the
severity of their crimes, said the ruling would not prevent prosecutors from
successfully making such requests in the future.
"The
court provides some clear direction on what detail should be included in a
waiver application," said spokesman Peter Aseltine. "We anticipate
that prosecutors will not have any problem complying with this decision and
obtaining waivers where appropriate."
Writing for
the majority, Justice Jaynee LaVecchia said given the consequences of adult
prosecutions, juveniles need only prove prosecutors abused their discretion
when they ask to waive a case to adult court, rather than prove a "patent
and gross" abuse of discretion.
In a
dissenting opinion, Justice Anne Patterson said the Legislature in 2000 granted
prosecutors broad discretion over when to transfer a juvenile case, and
guidelines by the Attorney General’s Office were enough to prevent arbitrary
decisions.
In the
case, three juveniles aged 16 and older challenged a lower court decision
granting the Middlesex County prosecutor’s request to try them as adults on
charges of aggravated assault, robbery and conspiracy. A fourth juvenile was
involved in the case but was not a party on appeal.
The
juveniles were charged in connection with a 2009 attack on Omar Estrada, who
was walking in Woodbridge Township when he was struck in the back of the head
from behind, kicked and robbed.
If
convicted as juveniles, the teenagers face a maximum 10 years in juvenile
detention. If convicted as adults, they face a maximum 40 years in state
prison.
When
prosecutors ask to send criminal cases against juveniles age 16 and older to
adult court, they must address several factors, including the nature of the
offenses, how the move would help deter future offenses and the maximum
possible adult sentence.
The
Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office argued "the need to deter the
juvenile(s) and others from engaging in this sort of activity is abundantly
clear." The trial court rejected the request based on a report that
juveniles sent to adult court were more likely to commit violent crimes. A
state appeals court reversed that decision, but the Supreme Court said the
prosecution’s explanation was inadequate.
The case
was sent to the trial court to allow the prosecutors to expand upon their
request to try the juveniles as adults. Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce
Kaplan said in a statement he will provide a more complete explanation.
"Even under this new, increased level of court review, our previous
statement of reasons pursuant to Attorney General guidelines was found
sufficient in all other respects," Kaplan said.
Courts
across the country are grappling with questions about how to handle juvenile
offenders. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court banned states from imposing
mandatory life sentences on juveniles. Lon Taylor, an assistant deputy public
defender who represented one of the juveniles, said the New Jersey decision was
a "dramatic change" to the juvenile justice system.
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/trying_juveniles_as_adults_wil.html
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