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Criminal Division

Veterans Courthouse - Rooms 100S and 100K
General Information (973) 693-5931/5932

Central Judicial Processing (CJP) & Special Remand Court
Rooms 502 & 504 - Veterans Courthouse (973) 693-6544
CJP court is the court in which defendants make their first court appearance following the filing of a complaint against them. CJP court arraigns defendants on all indictable matters in Essex County. In CJP Court defendants are informed of the charges against them (arraigned) and provided with copies of the charges, made aware of their rights to legal representation (including applying for a Public Defender), advised of any pre-trial intervention programs for which they may be eligible, and advised of the initial bail set for the charges against them.

Special Remand Court handles cases with indictable charges that were downgraded by the Prosecutor's Office to lesser offenses prior to the indictment stage. Cases referred to Special Remand Court include those that come directly from CJP Court at the time of arraignment, those that are referred by Pre-Indictment Disposition Court where cases are disposed of prior to indictment by accepting a defendant's plea to an accusation, and post-indictment cases that have been downgraded to disorderly person charges.

Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) (973) 693-5931/5932
Room 100K - Veterans Courthouse
The Pretrial Intervention Program is a diversionary program which offers criminal defendants an alternative to prosecution and conviction. Upon acceptance into the program, the judge postpones all further court proceedings against the defendant for a period of up to three years. The judge often orders special conditions which require the defendant to actively participate in rehabilitation. Defendants are supervised by probation officers who ensure compliance with the court's orders. Successful completion of the imposed term of PTI supervision results in a dismissal of the defendant's charges. Violation of the court imposed conditions may result in the defendant being terminated from the program and the charges being reactivated and returned to the trial list.

Criminal Records Office (973) 693-5965
Room 100S - Veterans Courthouse
The Criminal Records Office provides copies of criminal records for Superior Court cases and for cases that were downgraded from the Superior Court level to a non-indictable offense in Special Remand Court. Documents that can be requested include copies of a judgment of conviction and/or a court disposition. The fees are $3 for a document that is not certified with the state seal and $5 for a document that is certified with the state seal. Requests will be filled within three to five business days.

Bail Department (973) 693-5970
Room 100S - New Courts Building
Bail is used to secure the release of a person from jail and make sure they appear in court. A municipal court judge, authorized court administrator, or deputy court administrator may set bail for certain charges. A Superior Court judge must set bail for the following types of charges: murder, kidnaping, manslaughter, aggravated manslaughter, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, extradition or a contempt for violation of a restraining order.

Bail Options:

1) Cash Bail: This is payment of the full bail amount in order to secure the release of the defendant. Payment can be made by cash, money order or electronic payment (e.g., credit or debit card).

2) Ten Percent (10%) Cash Bail: This is payment in cash of 10% of the fixed bail amount. This option is not available in first or second degree cases. The defendant must complete a Bail Recognizance Form for the remaining 90%.

3) Real Estate or Property may also be offered as bail.

4) Bail Bonds: Those who need assistance in posting bail may contact a bail bondsman. A bail bondsmanis a person (surety) who guarantees the state that the accused will appear for his or her court proceeding. Bail Bondsmen must be registered by the insurance company for which they are authorized to write bail. The names of those who are authorized to write bail in New Jersey are listed in the Bail Registry. The Bail Unit staff of the checks the Bail Registry before accepting bail written by any bondsman.

Note: The court does not endorse the services of any bail bondsmen. Anyone needing this service may find bondsmen listed in the phone book.

Bail Procedures

Bail must be set within 12 hours of arrest. The non-refundable filing fee for posting bail is $18.

Bail on indictable cases can be posted between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the Criminal Records Office, Room 100S, on the first floor of the Veterans Courthouse.

After 4:30 p.m., bail for indictable cases and cases downgraded to the Municipal Court can be posted at the 13^th Avenue entrance of the Essex County Jail starting at 5:00 p.m.

Motions for bail reductions can be requested by the defendant's attorney in the Criminal Case Management Unit, Room 100K of the New Courts Building.A hearing must take place in Superior Court no later than three days after filing a request for a bail reduction.

IMPORTANT: To have bail monies returned after the final disposition of a case has been made, apply at the Criminal Records Office, Room 100S. Please be sure to bring valid identification and your copy of the bail forms with you. The bail will be returned in full upon the completion of the entire case. The defendant must have appeared for all of the court dates for this discharge to take place. A failure to appear for any court date will result in the issuance of a bench warrant for the defendant and an immediate forfeiture of the bond, bail money or property posted.

Expungements (973) 693-6863
Room 100S - New Courts BuildingWhen the court grants an order for expungement it permanently seals a defendant's criminal record from all inquiries made by agencies seeking criminal history information. The expunged record or any information pertaining to it will not be released for any reason except as authorized by law. To obtain more information about expungements, please call the number listed above.

Expungement forms can be obtained in Room 100S, New Courts Building, or on the Essex Vicinage web site at www.njcourtsonline.com/Essex/criminal/expungements. The use of an attorney is recommended when filling out the forms, but is not required. The forms must be typed and notarized.

There is a $52.50 filing fee, which is payable by cash, money order or certified check (made payable to the Superior Court New Jersey). Three (3) copies of the application and the required filing fee should be submitted to Room 100S.

Attorney Referrals If a defendant cannot afford an attorney to represent him/her in a criminal proceeding in Superior Court, they may apply for a Pubic Defender in Room 100K. The defendant must apply with the court; not in the Public Defender's Office. Court staff cannot recommend private attorneys. However, an information sheet of lawyer referral services is available.

Attorney Referrals
If a defendant cannot afford an attorney to represent him/her in a criminal proceeding in Superior Court, they may apply for a Public Defender in Room 100K. The defendant must apply with the court; not in the Public Defender's Office. Court staff cannot recommend private attorneys. However, an information sheet of lawyer referral services is available.

Related Offices

Essex County Prosecutor's Office, 50 West Market Street, 3^rd Floor Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 621-4700.

Essex County Sheriff's Office, 50 West Market Street, 2^nd Floor Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 621-4111.

Essex County Public Defender's Office, 31 Clinton Street Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 648-6200 - Adult Unit (973); 648-3470 - Juvenile Unit. Applications for an adult public defender must be obtained in Room 100K of the Veterans Courthouse. Applications for a juvenile public defender must be obtained in Room 900 of the Wilentz Court Complex.

Essex County Jail, 60 Nelson Place Newark, NJ 07102, (973) 621-2132; (973) 621-2133.

Essex County Jail Annex, 45 Elm Road Caldwell, NJ 07006, (973) 226-7777.