The Homicide Unit is the oldest specialized unit in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. The Squad was created to ensure that there exists close cooperation between the local police departments and the Prosecutor's Office whenever a homicide occurs within Essex County. The Homicide Squad's role is to ensure that evidence for homicide cases is developed in a legal and professional manner. The goal is to develop the best case possible for trial.

The Homicide Squad is also responsible for matters that have been designated as Special Investigations. There are times when a death occurs under circumstances that do not immediately indicate that a homicide was committed, but nonetheless require an investigation to determine if someone was legally responsible for the death. Special Investigations may also include matters involving: ATTEMPTED MURDER; WITNESS TAMPERING; OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT; ORGANIZED CRIME ACTIVITY; STREET GANG ACTIVITY; and MISSING PERSONS.

Since the Homicide Squad is responsible for investigating homicides in Essex County in conjunction with the local police departments, an established protocol sets forth the procedures for local police agencies to notify the Prosecutor's Office that a homicide has occurred. The Homicide Squad has an Investigator, a Superior Officer, and an Assistant Prosecutor on 24 hour call everyday of the week.

• Once notified that a homicide has occurred, the Investigator responds to the scene and works with the local police. The Investigator participates in every aspect of the investigation, including examination of the scene, preservation of evidence, questioning of witnesses and suspects, and meeting with the Medical Examiner.

• The on-call Supervisor provides any necessary support, supervision or direction as may be required in the investigation.

• The on-call Assistant Prosecutor is responsible for providing such legal advice and assistance that may be necessary to further the investigation. This includes assisting the Investigators in obtaining search warrants, detention orders and arrest warrants. Once an arrest occurs, the Assistant Prosecutor is responsible with the Investigator for preparing the matter for Grand Jury presentation.

• The Secretarial / Clerical / Legal Intern staff assists the legal and investigative staff in every aspect of the investigations and trials.

In addition to criminal homicides, the Homicide Squad is primarily responsible for investigating all police shootings that occur within Essex County. Generally, if the shooting is fatal, an Assistant Prosecutor in the Homicide Squad will ultimately present the matter to the Grand Jury consistent with the directives of the Division of Criminal Justice. Non-fatal police shootings are ultimately referred to the Professional Standards Bureau. The Homicide Squad also responds to all incidents when a police officer is shot. The Squad also conducts Special and/or Confidential Investigations as may be assigned. Finally, the Homicide Squad acts as a clearinghouse for the Kroll review cases that are homicide related, as well as Post Conviction Relief cases regarding homicide convictions.

During 2008, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Squad investigated 116 homicides; of that number, 2 were police-involved shootings. There were 101 fatal or serious motor vehicle collisions and 41 special investigation matters. Prosecutors assigned to the Squad were also responsible in 2008 for handling 8 juvenile waiver proceedings. These 116 homicides represent a 23% decrease in the homicide rate over 2007. In 2008, Homicide Squad Prosecutors and Detectives prepared, received and executed over 150 search warrants and additional communications data warrants.

A total of 142 homicide cases were prepared for Grand Jury presentation in 2008 with 119 cases indicted. The Vehicular Homicide Unit also presented 30 cases to the Grand Jury of which 12 were indicted.

During 2008, there were 54 adult dispositions, which reflects a 35% decrease over 2007. There was a 96% office-wide conviction rate of homicide cases disposed of by trial or plea. Homicide Squad personnel handled 60% of all homicide prosecutions in 2008, a decrease of 7% from 2008. Finally, the office had a decrease in the dismissal of homicide cases by Assistant Prosecutors from 8 cases in 2007 to 4 cases in 2008.

During 2009, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Squad investigated 121 homicides; of that number, 3 were police involved shootings. There were 98 fatal or serious motor vehicle collisions and 52 were special investigation matters. Prosecutors assigned to the Squad were also responsible in 2009 for handling 4 juvenile waiver proceedings. These 121 homicides represent a 4% increase in the homicide rate over 2008. During the same period, Homicide Squad Prosecutors and Detectives prepared, received and executed over 175 search warrants and additional communication data warrants.

A total of 93 homicide cases were prepared for Grand Jury presentation in 2009 with 87 cases indicted. The Vehicular Homicide Unit also presented 39 cases to the Grand Jury of which 14 were indicted.

During 2009, there were 75 adult dispositions, which equal a 39% increase over 2008. There was a 97% office-wide conviction rate of homicide cases disposed of by trial or plea. Homicide Squad personnel handled 71% of all homicide prosecutions in 2009, an increase of 11% from 2008.

The Homicide Unit works especially closely with ECPO's Crime Scene Unit, which was expanded and enhanced in 2006, including the opening of a 15,000 square foot state-of-the-art headquarters and lab facility.   The new facility includes a vehicle processing room equipped with a hydraulic lift; a forensic processing room designed to better enable a detective to locate and identify fingerprints on various types of evidence; a drying chamber room designed for the processing and packaging of blood soaked clothing; a digital photography room; and a large evidence storage room capable of handling more than 50 times the amount of evidence at the previous facility.

The Crime Scene facility also has a high bandwidth data communication system allowing for instant exchange of large digital files (audio, photo images, videos, etc.) with law enforcement agencies world-wide. The computer system also features a 3-D animated Crime Scene Sketch and Reconstruction software to allow the Crime Scene Detectives the ability to visually reconstruct a crime scene. The Crime Scene Unit uses three fully stocked field vehicles capable of the immediate and thorough processing of evidence at any crime scene. These vehicles are equipped with portable lighting systems, alternate light sources which enable the detective to view bodily fluids, hairs, fibers and latent fingerprints- all invisible to the human eye under natural light.

In 2009, the ECPO Crime Scene Unit became the central facility to process firearms recovered at all Essex County crime scenes. From July through December, the Unit processed 96 firearm weapons.

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