On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Defense on Friday, May 17, 2013
Over the past few years, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders violates Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. A majority of the justices has ruled that mandatory life sentencing schemes that do not allow the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders stand in the way of judges or juries considering mitigating factors. The court, however, did not bar life sentences for juvenile offenders per se.
Generally, the New Jersey juvenile justice system is designed to give juvenile offenders the opportunity for rehabilitation if found delinquent in juvenile court. However, prosecutors may waive specific cases to adult court and charge the juvenile as an adult. Juveniles can face serious consequences when charged with a violation of the law.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Theft & Property Crimes on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Law enforcement accuses three juveniles of running an alleged theft ring, apparently aimed toward electronic devices at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. The three 15-year-old students are accused of theft-related offenses that are alleged to have occurred over a roughly five-month period. Two of the teens have been charged in juvenile court with multiple counts of theft, receiving stolen property and dealing in stolen property. A third 15-year-old is facing allegations of receiving stolen property.
Authorities claim to have recovered more than $4,000 worth of electronic gear, including cellphones, iPods and at least one iPad mini. Law enforcement believes that some electronic devices were sold over the Internet through PayPal accounts. The three teenagers were processed on the theft allegations May 9. Each teenager was released to a parent or guardian pending future proceedings in the juvenile justice system in Middlesex County Family Court.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Crimes on Thursday, May 9, 2013
Law enforcement says that a teacher at Hopatcong High School believes that two students smelled of marijuana on school grounds. The teacher apparently reported the scent to a vice principal at the school on May 2. The vice principal went out to the parking lot, looking for the two students. Police claim that the school official found an 18-year-old in the lot. The vice principal thought that the student was acting in what authorities are characterizing as a nervous manner—leading to an encounter. Police claim that the school official questioned the student in the lot.
That interrogation later led to possession of marijuana charges for the New Jersey teenager. Authorities claim that during questioning, the high school student told the vice principal that he was in possession of pot. Apparently, law enforcement claims that the teen told the school official that some pot was located in his car parked in the school lot.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Defense on Monday, May 6, 2013
Law enforcement broke up an alleged underage drinking party over the weekend in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Authorities took 31 teens into custody at the location. Seventeen adult teens were charges with underage drinking, while 14 juveniles were released to their parents. It is not clear if any of the juveniles will be processed in the juvenile justice system for any alleged offenses.
Police claim that officers noticed a person near a second floor window, leading to an investigation. Many news reports do not have detailed information about what attracted authorities to the neighborhood. However, CBS New York suggests that authorities spotted a teen at the window, and police were not sure whether the teen was attempting to jump from the window or if the teen was falling.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Crimes on Friday, May 3, 2013
It may often seem like juveniles are only arrested after some chance encounter with police in public. While charges such as underage drinking and driving generally arise on the road, many juveniles are charged with offenses after a sometimes lengthy police investigation.
Authorities say that two juveniles were among three people arrested in Wildwood, New Jersey after law enforcement conducted a raid on a Cape May County residence. Authorities claim that officers arrived at the home with a search warrant in hand to conduct the residential raid.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Crimes on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Police in Central New Jersey reportedly opened an investigation into a string of bomb threats targeting Edison High School. Authorities say that information developed during the probe led officers to the home of a 16-year-old suspect. But detectives say that the juvenile is not linked to the alleged bomb threats. Nonetheless, the juvenile has been charged with unlawful possession of explosive devices.
Authorities claim that officers descended upon the juvenile's home in Edison, New Jersey during the investigation. Police apparently raided the residence in search of potential explosive devices. News reports suggest that authorities did not obtain a warrant to search the home as the media indicates that officers sought consent from an unidentified adult in the residence to raid the home.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Weapons Crimes on Friday, April 26, 2013
New Jersey laws concerning weapons prohibit juveniles from possessing a firearm under most circumstances. There are a few specifically defined exceptions to the general rule. However, the general prohibition extends to BB guns. An alleged weapons offense can bring serious consequences for a juvenile in New Jersey.
In some instances, a weapons offense may be included with other charges in a juvenile delinquency case. A story out of Essex County, New Jersey highlights how our state's firearm possession laws may be associated with other charges. Four teens, including one juvenile and three adults, were arrested April 18 on suspicion of aggravated assault and weapons charges.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Drug Charges on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Mahwah Police say that residents of a residential complex reported that an illicit party was going on in a vacant condominium unit Friday. Law enforcement claims that someone phoned in a tip that smells were emanating from the unit. Officers responded to the complex and claim that five teens fled from the unit when police knocked on the door. Four teenagers were later apprehended in Mahwah and Ramsey, New Jersey. Each is suspected of possible trespass and drug crimes.
Authorities say that three juveniles are among the four teens who were apprehended. Police say that charges against the trio of juveniles may be pending. Two juveniles, ages 14- and 16-years old were located in Mahwah, New Jersey after a foot chase. An 18-year-old man from New York and a 16-year-old teen were located in Ramsey, New Jersey. Authorities claim that the elder teenager spoke with police about the alleged party in Mahwah.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Juvenile Robbery on Friday, April 19, 2013
In late March, a hit-and-run driver struck a New Jersey man shortly after 10:00 in the evening in an intersection in Newark, New Jersey. Emergency crews took the 50-year-old man to University Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at about 10:50 p.m. The man had run into traffic and an autopsy determined the cause of death to be from blunt force trauma. Authorities arrested two juveniles on April 5 related to the car accident investigation.
Authorities arrested a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old in the case. But the juveniles are not accused of being associated with the car involved in the accident. Essex County, New Jersey officials claim that the young teens attempted to rob the man before he ran into the street.
Prosecutors claim that the man was attempting to flee the attempted robbery when he ran into traffic. The juveniles are now charged with a slate of offenses, including felony murder related to the hit and run investigation.
On behalf of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff posted in Underage Drinking on Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Police in Hopewell Township, New Jersey say that someone called authorities to report a potential underage drinking party on April 4. When law enforcement arrived at the location, officers say that around 50 juveniles were at the home. Officials say that bottles and cups were scattered around the home, and vomit was found inside the residence. Police called in an ambulance to check out teens, but none of the juveniles were transported to the hospital.
Officials have charged as many as 23 teens with underage alcohol offenses as a result of the police response. Law enforcement says that many teens fled the scene when police arrived. In addition to underage consumption and possession charges, several people are facing a variety of other offenses.
