Organization

Office Units

Family Division

The Family Division of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office is comprised of the following units:

Domestic Violence/Juvenile Unit

The Domestic Violence Unit investigates and prosecutes criminal conducted perpetrated between individuals involved in a domestic relationship. The Domestic Unit is responsible for the following functions within the Prosecutor's Office:

• Vertically prosecute all criminal cases from the signing of a complaint through final disposition of a trial.
• Prosecute violations of Restraining Orders.
• Present cases to the Grand Jury.
• Assist in the preparation and execution of Domestic Violence. Administrative Search Warrants for Safekeeping of Weapons.
• Conduct training seminars for local Law Enforcement Officers regarding Domestic Violence Policy and Procedures and updates on relevant case law pertaining to Domestic Violence protocols.
• Provide legal advice to Law Enforcement Officers in handling responses to Domestic Violence crime scenes and evidence collection.
• Develop the Domestic Violence annual In-Service Training Curriculum for all county law enforcement officials.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the DV Unit within the Prosecutor's Office.
• Develop the Domestic Violence Police Response Directive distributed to each municipal police department within the County of Morris.

The Juvenile Unit is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of juvenile offenders and to assist families in crisis. The Juvenile Unit is responsible for the following functions with the Office:

• Assist in the investigation with local law enforcement officers of juvenile offenses.
• Screen cases to determine if the juvenile should be diverted out of the court system and handled through the probation department.
• Evaluate cases and determine whether a juvenile meets the criteria to be waived to adult criminal court to be prosecuted as an adult.
• Vertically prosecute juveniles in Superior Court Family Part.
• Conduct Probable Cause hearing upon a juvenile's detainment.
• Conduct Detention Review Hearings for Juveniles who are detained at the Juvenile Detention Center. Detention Hearings are required to be conducted every 14 days for any juvenile currently detained and not to exceed 21 days thereafter in the facility.
• Participate in the Morris County Youth Shelter review hearings which will determine a juvenile's continued placement at the shelter.
• Coordinate with School Resource Officers to ensure their compliance with the Memorandum of Agreement between Law Enforcement and the Board of Education.
• Assist the juvenile probation department in supervising and ensuring compliance with probation conditions.
• Provide legal advice to local law enforcement officers regarding current case law and juvenile procedures and protocols.
• Conduct seminars for Juvenile Officers and Detectives on relevant case law and differentiating how the laws are applied to Juveniles as opposed to adults.

Weapon Return Function

The Weapon Return Unit determines whether a person whose weapons are seized by law enforcement officers in connection with a domestic violence incident will be eligible to have their weapons and/or firearms returned to them. The Weapon Return Unit is responsible for the following functions with the Office:

• Conduct an investigation and background check to determine if the person has the proper paperwork and is not subject to any disabilities under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3 prior to returning the weapons seized pursuant to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.
• Represent the State of New Jersey on appeals stemming from a denial of a Firearms ID Card Application or Permit to Purchase and/or Carry and Handgun.
• Provide legal advice to law enforcement officers involved in the seizure of weapons in domestic violence cases.
• Assist in the preparation of Administrative Domestic Violence Search Warrants for Weapons for Safekeeping.

Missing Persons Unit

The Morris County Missing Persons Unit, one of the few County level units in the State is designed to oversee and coordinate the investigations of Missing Persons. The Unit Accomplishes this by:

• Working hand-in-hand with local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies to best utilize the assets that each agency can bring forth, in order to ensure a swift return of the individual to his or her family;
• Coordinates the Morris County Search and Rescue Team, which draw on law enforcement personnel from both the County, and Local level;
• Ensure that reports of missing individuals are disseminated promptly;
• Provide legal and investigative training for law enforcement personnel;
• Work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to assist in the safe return of missing children;
• Coordinate the President's DNA Initiative with the New Jersey State Police DNA Identification Project, to provide the latest in biological technology to locate and identify those who are reported missing