New Jersey Criminal Defense Law Blog

It happens all the time - something gets lost in the mail. However, it is seldom a life-and-death matter. For an Alabama death row inmate who missed a filing deadline because of a mailroom mix-up at his attorney's New York law firm, a recent Supreme Court ruling on the subject gives this convicted murderer another chance.

The New Jersey Public Defender's Office believes that a pattern of misconduct exists in Vineland's Street Crimes Unit.  They are seeking confidential documents from an ongoing police corruption lawsuit to make their case.

Internet and computer crimes such as cyber bullying raise many legal issues.  For example, the schoool board in Union Township, New Jersey, has begun proceedings against a teacher who allegedly made anti-gay remarks on Facebook. At issue in the matter is not only the teacher's job, but her right to free speech. 

The chances of getting charged with identity theft just increased, according to a publication directed at accountants, Accounting Today. The Internal Revenue Service has created a special section on its web site dedicated to combating phishing, tax refund fraud and other types of identity fraud and theft.

New Jersey has been a leader in reducing its prison population in the past few years. In the years since 2000, New Jersey's prison population has declined by 20.6 percent, or 6,486 inmates. However, most other states have seen increases in the number of people incarcerated, with Illinois leading the pack with an increase of 3,257 prisoners in 2010, or an annual increase of 7.2 percent.

The police don't always get it right. Exhibit A is a recent drug bust that found no drugs but caused $12,000 worth of damage to a 2004 BMW.

During a routine traffic stop, Haskell, New Jersey, resident Darren Richardson was defensive and uncooperative, according to police. Richardson also has a criminal record and served two years in prison on drug charge. Police said that they arrested Richardson and impounded his car because they smelled what they thought was marijuana.

Two trucking company owners with World Trade Center development contracts have been charged with fraud and embezzlement. Federal prosecutors charged the Fusella Group, based in East Hanover, New Jersey, and a second company with a the same ownership, Alpine Investment Group, with hiding their drivers' true work hours to avoid paying legally required wages and benefits. The company owners submitted paperwork certifying that they had paid their workers as required.