Criminal defense attorney and JFS Vice President Rosenblum announced that her firm will be raising its financial support to $5,000 annually for the next two years. “At JFS, we are grateful for Melissa’s philanthropic commitment and volunteer efforts helping those in...
Advocates for criminal justice reform have long argued that, for many offenders, treatment and support are more effective and more just than simple punishment. Although the justice system is resistant to change, this idea has caught on, particularly regarding military...
In New Jersey, there are some important distinctions between juries in civil trials and those in criminal ones. In a civil trial (a lawsuit regarding something other than a criminal matter), there are typically six jurors that will decide the outcome, compared to 12...
Who gets to decide which technology law enforcement agencies can use in their efforts to investigate crimes and secure convictions? Unfortunately, they do. In the absence of explicit bans, use of investigative tech is largely unregulated. This is a problem, because...
Everything related to criminal justice – from the way laws are written to the manner in which police and prosecutors enforce them – has both intended and unintended consequences. In some cases, those consequences can be disastrous for individuals who, by most people’s...
A common legal defense against violent crime charges is to claim that the accused was acting in self-defense or attempting to protect others. While this is a legitimate legal strategy, there seem to be disparities in who is allowed to use it and how effective it is....
Most experts agree that America’s “war on drugs” has been an expensive failure. The costs are not limited to taxpayers, however. Countless Americans have received lengthy prison sentences for non-violent drug offenses. Marijuana, which is now legal or decriminalized...
A search of one’s belongings – by anyone – can feel incredibly invasive. You wouldn’t want someone rifling through your purse or backpack, nor would you be comfortable with someone looking around your home for whatever they might happen to find. But for many of us,...
The polygraph, or “lie detector” test, is a well-known piece of technology that most of us have seen in movies and television shows. But how often are these devices used in the “real world?” And are they reliable, or just another example of junk science? Three...
Fighting traffic tickets can seem like a headache you’d rather avoid by just paying a fine and moving on. It can be cumbersome and may take time and money. However, in certain cases, doing so can have significant short- and long-term benefits. How a traffic violation...