The Office of Media Relations in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office manages external communications for the largest and busiest Prosecutor’s Office in the State of New Jersey in the largest media market in the country.
The responsibilities of the Office include:
- Serving as lead spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor and office staff.
- Maintaining daily contact with print and broadcast media regarding homicides, arrests, trials, indictments, convictions, and other newsworthy developments.
- Remaining on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for developing news stories.
- Managing press conferences on major issues.
- Developing and implementing the strategic communications plan with the Prosecutor.
- Assisting local police departments with media relations.
- Working cooperatively on media relations with law enforcement partners at the state and federal level.
- Providing current information to public officials and government agencies on relevant investigatory and prosecutorial activities.
- Educating assistant prosecutors and other staff regarding the ethical rules of dealing with the press.
- Overseeing the production of the ECPO Annual Report.
- Overseeing the production of The Enforcer, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office internal e-Newsletter, and The Essex Observer, the newsletter produced by the Community Justice Unit.
The Media Relations Office continues to provide timely, appropriate, and accurate information to members of the press. The Media Relations Office attempts to strike a balance between protecting the rights of victims, the integrity of investigations, and the public’s right to know.
The Media Relations Office attempts to strike a balance between three competing interests: the public’s right to know and the need to protect the rights of victims and the integrity of investigations. Transparency is critical to maintaining public confidence in the work done by the Assistant Prosecutors, Detectives, and support staff. Yet, confidentiality is often crucial to the successful investigation of cases. Our aim is to be as transparent as possible without compromising the investigative work.
The assistant prosecutors, detectives, and support staff that work in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office do extraordinary work. Prosecutors are encouraged to speak to reporters about the fine work that is being done by this Office. Doing so helps to maintain public confidence in the Office and provides an opportunity to educate the public about the challenges prosecutors face.
