The mission of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is to seek justice, to serve justice, and to do justice. In order to support an environment of safety, security and lawful behavior for the people of Essex County, the Office will use lawful and reasonable methods to successfully identify, apprehend and prosecute those who commit crimes. When crime occurs, we will diligently pursue the arrest, indictment and conviction of those responsible, and at the same time respect all Constitutional safeguards for the accused. This will be accomplished through cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, at the local, county, state and federal levels, and with the community as a whole.

Our staff of dedicated professionals is committed to ensuring that victims and witnesses are treated with compassion and dignity. We also operate and participate in various educational and public awareness programs to reduce crime throughout the County and provide an atmosphere of cooperation, confidence and mutual respect. Each and every member of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office pledges their commitment and full support to this mission.

Duties of the Prosecutor

The Prosecutor of Essex County is a constitutional officer. According to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, “County prosecutors shall be nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Their term of office shall be five years and they shall serve until the appointment and qualification of their respective successors.” (N.J.Constitution, Article 7, section 2, paragraph 1). New Jersey law also states that “Each prosecutor shall be vested with the same powers and be subject to the same penalties, within his county, as the attorney general shall by law be vested with or subject to, and he shall use all reasonable and lawful diligence for the detection, arrest, indictment and conviction of offenders against the laws.”

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is staffed by a team of dedicated men and women who support the Prosecutor in fulfilling this duty. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is the largest county prosecutors office in the State of New Jersey, handling approximately one-quarter of all criminal prosecutions in the State. The prosecution of crime in a densely populated, metropolitan environment such as Essex County is itself a complex matter. The investigation, indictment, trial and appeal process varies with the facts of each particular case.

Most citizens read or hear about the high-profile cases handled by this Office. However, these represent only the “tip of the iceberg”. Unseen to most law-abiding citizens, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office operates a comprehensive organizational apparatus which works with local law enforcement to detect, investigate and evaluate all reports of indictable crime within the County, and then determines the most appropriate avenue for disposition. In addition, an administrative staff supports the day-to-day operating needs of the Office. And finally, the Office provides a variety of pro-active services meant to aid victims and witness, and support the communities that it serves.