Our Mission

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 uses lawful and reasonable methods to identify, apprehend and prosecute those who commit crimes. When a crime occurs, we diligently pursue the arrest, indictment, and conviction of those responsible, while respecting constitutional safeguards for the accused. This will be accomplished through cooperation with law enforcement agencies, at the local, county, state, and federal levels.

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 his or her 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. His or her 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/she 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 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 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. These cases, however, represent only the tip of the iceberg. Unseen to most law-abiding citizens, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office operates a comprehensive organizational apparatus that works with local law enforcement to detect, investigate and evaluate reports of indictable crime in the county, and determines the most appropriate avenue for disposition. In addition, administrative staff supports the day-to-day operating needs of the office. And finally, the office provides an array services to aid victims and witnesses, and to support the communities it serves.