Homicide

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ABOUT US
F.A.Q.

The Essex County Prosecutor, in association with the Chiefs of Police, formed the Homicide Task Force to investigate all homicides in Essex County. The Homicide Task Force includes personnel from Newark, East Orange, Irvington and Orange Police Departments as well as the New Jersey State Police and the Essex County Sheriff's Office.

While the Prosecutor's Office is the lead agency in all investigations, the Homicide Task Force investigates suspicious, unattended, accidental and self-inflicted deaths. A staff comprised of an Investigator, a Superior Officer, and an Assistant Prosecutor is on call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Homicide Unit also investigates fatal police shootings that occur in Essex County. Non-fatal police shootings are ultimately referred to the Professional Standards Bureau.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Task Force includes a Vehicular Homicide Unit that investigates fatal traffic accidents, determines whether criminal liability is indicated and vigorously prosecutes the responsible persons.

When a Homicide Occurs

The following steps are generally taken:

• The Investigator and on-call Supervisor responds to the crime scene to work with the local police to examine the scene, preserve evidence and to question witnesses and suspects.

• The on-call Assistant Prosecutor provides legal assistance required to advance the investigation. Once an arrest occurs, the Assistant Prosecutor prepares the matter for Grand Jury presentation along with the Investigator.

• A member of the Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy contacts the victim's family to offer support and services to assist them through both the personal crisis and the criminal justice process.

For more information, call the Essex County Prosecutor's
Victim-Witness Advocacy Office at: 973-621-4687.