Welcome to The National Paralegal Center Legal Services for New Jersey County Jail Inmates

1) Dismiss Complaint/Accusation: Authority: R. 3:10-2.; Example: R. 3:10-2(d); limits noted in State v. Wade.; The paper charge is legally broken.; Use it when: Element missing; double jeopardy; unconstitutional statute.; Ask the court to: Dismiss now, or require a legally sufficient charge.

2) Quash Arrest Warrant: Authority: R. 3:10-2(a); Part 3:5. Examples: Ruotolo (neutral issuer + PC); Frankshearing for affidavit lies/omissions.; Kill a warrant built on weak or false grounds.; Use it when: Affidavit misstates/omits key facts; signer not neutral; no probable cause; Ask the court to: Quash warrant; suppress fruits.

3) Bill of Particulars: Authority: R. 3:7-5. Example: charge specificity cases incl. LaConti.; Make the State spell out the who/what/when/where/how; Use it when: Vague dates; multiple acts lumped together.; Ask the court to: Order detailed particulars per count.

4) Discovery / Inspection Authority: R. 3:13-3. Examples: Hernandez (broad but relevant); Scoles(protective orders).; Give me reports, video, lab work, statements.; Use it when: BWC/911/CAD; lab results; cooperator statements.; Ask the court to: Set deadlines; require complete production.

5) Compel Discovery + Sanctions: Authority: R. 3:13-3(f). Examples: Richardson (adverse inference for lost video); A-3588-17T4 (sanctions discretion).; Force compliance; punish noncompliance.; Use it when: Ignored requests; destroyed video; referenced items withheld.; Ask the court to: Compel; adverse inference/exclusion; fees; deadlines.

6) Pretrial Detention or Release Review: Authority CJRA, N.J.S.A. 2A:162-15 to -26; R. 3:4-2(c).; Release me with conditions or fix a bad detention call; Use it when: Lower risk; new custodian/housing/job; detention discovery is thin. Ask the court to: Release with GPS/conditions; supplemental hearing; State compliance.

7) Suppress Evidence (Search/Seizure): Authority: R. 3:5-7.; Franks; targeted pre-hearing discovery per Desir.; Exclude fruits of an illegal search.; Use it when: No valid warrant/exception; false/overbroad affidavit.; Ask the court to: Suppress items and fruits.

8) Suppress Statements: Authority: Part 3; NJ exclusion rules.; Keep out Miranda-tainted or coerced words.; Use it when: Questioning after request for counsel/stop; threats/promises; intoxication.; Ask the court to: Suppress statements and derivatives.

9) Suppress Identification: Authority: R. 3:11; R. 3:5-7.; Block IDs from suggestive procedures.; Use it when: One-person showups; suggestive arrays; missing R. 3:11 docs.; Ask the court to: Suppress or give reliability hearing and limits.

10) Wade/Henderson ID Hearing: Authority: Henderson; Chen; model charges; AG ID guidance.; Test ID reliability before the jury sees it. Use it when: Social-media exposure; non-blind lineup; no recording/preservation. Ask the court to: Hold hearing; then suppress if unreliable.

11) Speedy Indictment / Speedy Trial Relief: Authority: CJRA clocks (e.g., 90-day indictment for detained).; Enforce time limits; revisit detention.; Use it when: 90-day window blown; unjustified post-indictment delays.; Ask the court to: Release; dismiss where authorized; set firm schedule.

12) Dismiss Indictment: Authority: R. 3:10-2(c).;(Defects; improper grand-jury practice; Wade limits).; Plain English: The grand jury process or charge is legally flawed. Use it when: Misleading evidence; missing element; invalid statute theory.; Ask the court to: Dismiss or resubmit with proper instructions.

13) Strike Surplusage: Authority: R. 3:10-2(c).; Delete prejudicial fluff from the indictment; Use it when: Nicknames; prior bad acts inserted.; Ask the court to: Remove surplusage.

14) Sever Charges or Defendants: Authority: R. 3:15-2.; Separate trials to prevent spillover prejudice; Use it when: Co-defendant confession implicates you; unrelated counts joined.
Ask the court to: Sever trials/counts.

15) Change of Venue: Authority: R. 3:14-2.; Plain English: Move County for a fair jury. Use it when: Saturating local publicity; tainted pool. Ask the court to: Transfer venue.

16) In Limine (Exclude/Limit Evidence): Authority: N.J.R.E. 401–403, 404(b).(Scoles, Hernandez). Pretrial ruling to block unfair/irrelevant proof.; Use it when: Unrelated priors; graphic yet low-value photos.; Ask the court to Exclude or tightly limit.

18) Challenge Expert: Authority: N.J.R.E. 702–705. (Protective tailoring, Scoles).;  Keep junk science out.; Use it when: Novel toolmark/cell-site; unvalidated lab work.; Ask the court to: 104 hearing; disclosure; exclusion.

19) Compel Brady/Giglio (Favorable/Impeachment)
Authority: Brady, Giglio, R. 3:13-3; Brown; AG 2019-6. ; Order the State to hand over helpful or witness-impeaching proof—on time.; Use it when: Deals, recants, inconsistent statements, officer credibility files; late discovery.; Ask the court to: Produce now; certify compliance; rolling updates; in-camera review if needed.

20) Remedies for Brady Violations: Authority: Brown (new trial for late Brady); Sappah (dismissal with prejudice is rare).; If they hid it, fix it—sanctions to mistrial/new trial; extreme cases, dismissal. Use it when: Core impeachment/exculpatory evidence drops mid-trial.
Ask the court to: Continue; exclude; mistrial/new trial; findings for appeal.

21) CI Identity/Discovery: Authority: R. 3:13-3; Roviaro balancing; targeted discovery approach (cf. Desir).; Reveal or test the CI when material to guilt/PC.; Use it when: CI is sole eyewitness or basis for PC.
Ask the court to: In-camera review; disclosure; targeted CI discovery.

22) Inspect Grand-Jury Materials/Instructions:Authority: R. 3:6-7 (good cause).; Let the court check for misinstruction or omission.; Use it when: You suspect a skewed presentation.

23) Hogan Dismissal (clearly exculpatory evidence withheld from grand jury): Authority: State v. Hogan.; Plain English: If the State hid clear innocence proof from grand jurors, toss the indictment.; Use it when: Credible recant, objective medical tests, or similar was withheld.
Ask the court to: Dismiss or resubmit with full disclosure.

24) Independent Testing/Inspection: Authority: R. 3:13-3(b)(1)(H).; Let defense experts retest drugs/DNA/prints/phones.; Use it when: Chain-of-custody or lab quality is at issue.; Ask the court to: Access, splits, preservation.

25) Preserve & Produce Digital Evidence (BWC/911/CAD/Surveillance): Authority: R. 3:13-3; sanctions under 3:13-3(f).; Stop auto-deletes; get copies fast.
Use it when: Store cams, municipal systems, third-party video.
Ask the court to: Preservation order; prompt production; sanctions if lost.

26) Withdraw Guilty Plea (pre-sentence); Authority: R. 3:9-3(e).; Take back a plea if justice requires. Use it when: Not knowing/voluntary; new exculpatory proof.
Ask the court to: Vacate plea; restore trial posture.

27) Correct Presentence Report (PSI) & Factors
Authority: Part 3:21; N.J.S.A. 2C:44-1 (aggravating/mitigating).;Fix PSI errors that can add time.; Wrong record; ignored mitigation; bad restitution info.
Ask the court to: Correct PSI; make on-the-record findings on all 2C:44-1(b) mitigators, including (b)(14) youth—under 26 at the time of the offense; consider letters, treatment, work, family duties; Proof of youth at offense (under 26) and developmental maturity.; Education/employment records; GED, job offers, certificates.; Treatment/rehab enrollment, clean time, program letters.; Medical/mental-health reports; trauma history; neuro evals.; Family responsibilitiesand community support letters.; Restitution plan and ability-to-pay documentation.; Reentry plan: housing, supervision, services, verified placements.