In 2016, the expungement statute in New Jersey was revised to make it a little friendlier for people to clear their record and start over. One of the changes seemed to imply that if you entered drug court and successfully completed the program without any new arrests or convictions, you could expunge your whole record and start over. 

Most of the time, those in drug court have drug offenses on their record. It seemed like a great new start. Become sober or drug free through a court intensive program and at the end, you have a new outlook on life and a new clear criminal record to help you find a job and really change your ways. 

Many expungements were granted clearing the records of those in drug court. However, those orders were questioned and appealed. Now, based on a new case, it appears if on your record is a 3rd or 4th degree drug charge that would normally require one to prove expungement was in the public interest, you now have to prove that even if you graduated drug court.

Our NJ Supreme Court recently ruled that when a State Trooper entered a woman's home without waiting for a proper warrant, he violated the woman's rights, but she can't sue the police.

The police claimed they feared the woman was going to destroy evidence in the home based on her perceived behavior, so they entered the home without the warrant. The woman was made a prisoner in her own home while the cops waited there for the warrant. The woman filed a suit claiming her civil rights were violated. The trial court level dismissed the case, but our appellate court reversed that ruling. The case went on to the NJ Supreme Court where a recent decision stated that there is a lack of clarity in the law governing the lawful means to secure a home by law enforcement while a warrant application is pending. The court determined the troopers acted according to their training and therefore could not be sued.