N.J. Stat. tit. 2A, ch. 157

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-1 Short title

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "County Detectives and County Investigators Act (Revision of 1951)." L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-2 County detectives generally; appointment; salary; duties

The prosecutor in each of the several counties of this State may appoint such number of suitable persons, not in excess of the number, and at salaries not less than the minimum amounts, in this chapter provided, to be known as county detectives, to assist the prosecutor in the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders against the law. Persons so appointed shall be in the classified service of the civil service and shall possess all the powers and rights and be subject to all the obligations of police officers, constables and special deputy sheriffs in criminal matters. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-2.1 Power of arrest for crime committed in presence of officer within territorial limits of state

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, any full-time, permanently appointed county detective, sheriff's officer and investigator sheriff's office shall have full power of arrest for any crime committed in his presence anywhere within the territorial limits of the State of New Jersey. L.1977, c. 438, s. 2, eff. March 2, 1978.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-3 County detectives in first-class counties

In counties of the first class there may be appointed not in excess of 50 county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, two deputy chiefs of county detectives, four captains of county detectives, and not more than 12 lieutenants of county detectives; their annual salaries shall be fixed as follows: chief of county detectives, not less than $11,500.00; deputy chiefs of county detectives, not less than $11,000.00; captains of county detectives, not less than $9,500.00; lieutenants of county detectives, not less than $7,500.00; and other county detectives, not less than $6,500.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 635, s. 1; L.1966, c. 266, s. 1, eff. Sept. 6, 1966; L.1974, c. 171, s. 1, eff. Dec. 10, 1974.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-4 County detectives in second-class counties; appointment; minimum compensation

a. In counties of the second class having a population in excess of 580,000 there may be appointed not in excess of 40 county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, one deputy chief of county detectives, one captain of county detectives, six lieutenants of county detectives and four sergeants of county detectives. b. In counties of the second class having a population between 500,000 and 580,000 there may be appointed not in excess of 28 county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, one deputy chief of county detectives, one captain of county detectives, six lieutenants of county detectives and four sergeants of county detectives. c. In counties of the second class having a population between 440,000 and 500,000, there may be appointed not in excess of 28 county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, one deputy chief of county detectives, four captains of county detectives and six lieutenants of county detectives. d. In the counties of the second class having a population between 400,000 and 440,000, there may be appointed not in excess of 24 county detectives of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, one captain of county detectives, four lieutenants of county detectives and two sergeants of county detectives. e. In the counties of the second class having a population of 400,000 or under, there may be appointed not in excess of 12 county detectives of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, one captain of county detectives, and three lieutenants of county detectives. f. Their annual salaries shall be fixed as follows: chief of county detectives, not less than $9,500.00; deputy chief of county detectives, not less than $9,000.00; captain of county detectives, not less than $8,000.00; lieutenant of county detectives, not less than $7,000.00; sergeant of county detectives, not less than $6,500.00; and other county detectives, not less than $6,000.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, s. 2; L.1961, c. 97, p. 665, s. 1; L.1967, c. 210, s. 1, eff. Sept. 25, 1967; L.1970, c. 260, s. 1, eff. Nov. 2, 1970; L.1973, c. 203, s. 1, eff. July 31, 1973; L.1977, c. 79, s. 1, eff. May 2, 1977; L.1978, c. 164, s. 1, eff. Dec. 7, 1978; L.1980, c. 42, s. 1, eff. June 20, 1980; L.1981, c. 462, s. 8; L.1982, c. 142, s. 1, eff. Sept. 20, 1982; L.1983, c. 433, s. 1, eff. Jan. 5, 1984.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-5 County detectives in third-class counties of over 75,000 population

In counties of the third class now or hereafter having a population in excess of 75,000 there may be appointed not in excess of 9 county detectives, of whom 1 may be designated chief of county detectives, 1 captain of county detectives; and 1 lieutenant of county detectives; their annual salaries shall be fixed as follows: chief of county detectives, not less than $7,500.00; captain of county detectives, not less than $7,000.00; lieutenant of county detectives, not less than $6,000.00; and other county detectives, not less than $5,500.00 L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 636, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-6 County detectives in third-class counties of less than 75,000 population

In counties of the third class now or hereafter having a population of less than 75,000 there may be appointed not in excess of five county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives and of whom one may be designated as lieutenant of county detectives; their annual salaries shall be fixed as follows: chief of county detectives, not less than $6,500.00; lieutenant of county detectives, not less than $6,000.00; and other county detectives, not less than $5,500.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 636, s. 4; L.1973, c. 278, s. 1, eff. Nov. 29, 1973.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-8 County detectives

2A:157-8. In counties of the fifth class with a population of 400,000 or less there may be appointed not in excess of 12 county detectives, and in counties of the fifth class with a population in excess of 400,000 there may be appointed not in excess of 15 county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives, two captains of county detectives, and four lieutenants of county detectives. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended 1974, c.5; 1975, c.234; 1982,c.187; 1988, c. 65.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-9 County detectives in sixth-class counties

In counties of the sixth class there may be appointed not in excess of six county detectives, of whom one may be designated chief of county detectives and one captain of county detectives; their annual salaries shall be fixed as follows: chief of county detectives, not less than $7,500.00; captain of county detectives, not less than $6,500.00; and other county detectives, not less than $5,500.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 637, s. 6, eff. Sept. 17, 1959; L.1975, c. 280, s. 1, eff. Jan. 12, 1976.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10 County investigators generally; appointment, salary, duties.

2A:157-10. In addition to the office of county detective, there is created in the office of the prosecutor, the office or position of county investigator which shall be in the unclassified service of the civil service. The prosecutor of each of the several counties of this State may appoint such number of suitable persons, not in excess of the number, and at salaries not less than the minimum amounts, in this act provided, to be known as county investigators, and to assist the prosecutor in the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders against the law. Persons so appointed shall possess all the powers and rights and be subject to all the obligations of police officers, constables and special deputy sheriffs, in criminal matters. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a single probationary or temporary appointment as a county investigator may be made for a total period not exceeding one year. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended 2003, c.173, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.1 Causes for removal of county investigator.

2. Except as otherwise provided by law, a county investigator employed by the county prosecutor shall not be removed from office, employment or position for political reasons or for any cause other than incapacity, misconduct, or disobedience of rules and regulations established by the prosecutor, nor shall such investigator be suspended, removed, fined or reduced in rank from or in office, employment, or position therein, except for just cause as hereinbefore provided and then only upon a written complaint setting forth the charge or charges against such investigator. The chief investigator and deputy chief investigator, however, may be removed or demoted by the prosecutor. The complaint shall be filed in the office having charge of the office wherein the complaint is made and a copy shall be served upon the investigator so charged, with notice of a designated hearing thereon by the proper authorities, which shall be not less than 10 or more than 30 days from the date of service of the complaint. A complaint charging a violation of the internal rules and regulations established for the conduct of a prosecutor's office shall be filed no later than the 45th day after the date on which the person filing the complaint obtained sufficient information to file the matter upon which the complaint is based. The 45-day time limit shall not apply if an investigation of an investigator for a violation of the internal rules or regulations of the office is included directly or indirectly within a concurrent investigation of that office for a violation of the criminal laws of this State. The 45-day limit shall begin on the day after the disposition of the criminal investigation. The 45-day requirement of this paragraph for the filing of a complaint against an investigator shall not apply to a filing of a complaint by a private individual. A failure to comply with these provisions as to the service of the complaint and the time within which a complaint is to be filed shall require a dismissal of the complaint. The investigator may waive the right to a hearing and may appeal the charges directly to any available authority specified by law or regulation, or follow any other procedure recognized by a contract, as permitted by law. For the purposes of this section, the transfer of an investigator from one section or unit to another section or unit within the office of the prosecutor shall not constitute a demotion, and the transferred investigator shall retain his rank, seniority, seniority-related privileges and salary. L.2003,c.173,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.2 Subpoena power of those hearing charges.

3. Except as otherwise provided by the law, the officer, board or authority empowered to hear and determine the charge or charges made against a county investigator shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and documentary evidence. The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce any such subpoena. L.2003,c.173,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.3 Suspension pending hearing.

4. If any county investigator shall be suspended pending a hearing as a result of charges made against him, such hearing, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the service of the copy of the complaint upon him, in default of which the charges shall be dismissed and the investigator may be returned to duty. L.2003,c.173,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.4 Charges, suspension, with or without pay.

5. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, whenever a county investigator is charged with an offense, under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States, the investigator may be suspended from performing his duties, with pay, until the case against the investigator is disposed of at trial, the complaint is dismissed, or the prosecution is terminated; provided, however, that if a grand jury returns an indictment against the investigator, or the investigator is charged with a crime of the first, second or third degree or which involves moral turpitude or dishonesty, the investigator may be suspended from his duties, without pay, until the case against him is disposed of at trial, the complaint is dismissed, or the prosecution is terminated. L.2003,c.173,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.5 Reinstatement, recovery of pay.

6. If a suspended county investigator is found not guilty at trial, the charges are dismissed or the prosecution is terminated, the investigator shall be reinstated to his position and shall be entitled to recover all pay withheld during the period of suspension subject to any disciplinary proceedings or administrative action. L.2003,c.173,s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.6 Recovery of salary for unlawful suspension.

7. Whenever any county investigator shall be suspended or dismissed from his office, employment or position and that suspension or dismissal shall be judicially determined to be illegal, the investigator shall be entitled to recover his salary from the date of such suspension or dismissal, provided a written application therefor shall be filed with the prosecutor's office within 30 days after such judicial determination. L.2003,c.173,s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.7 Review by Superior Court.

8. Any county investigator who has been tried and convicted of any charge or charges, and is employed by a prosecutor in a county where Title 11A (Civil Service) of the New Jersey Statutes is not in operation, may obtain a review thereof by the Superior Court. Such review shall be obtained by serving a written notice of an application therefor upon the party or board whose action is to be reviewed within 10 days after written notice to the investigator of the conviction. The party or board shall transmit to the court a copy of the record of such conviction, and of the charge or charges for which the applicant was tried. The court shall hear the cause de novo on the record below and may either affirm, reverse or modify such conviction. If the applicant was removed from his office, employment or position, the court may direct that he be restored to such office, employment or position, and to all his rights pertaining thereto, and may take such other order or judgement as the court deems proper. Either party may supplement the record with additional testimony subject to the rules of evidence. L.2003,c.173,s.8.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-10.8 Provision of means for defense, reimbursement.

9. Whenever a county investigator is a defendant in any action or legal proceeding arising out of and directly related to the lawful exercise of police powers in the furtherance of his official duties, the prosecutor shall provide the investigator with the necessary means for the defense of such action or proceeding, but not for his defense in a disciplinary proceeding instituted against him by the prosecutor or in a criminal proceeding instituted as a result of a complaint on behalf of the prosecutor. If any such disciplinary or criminal proceeding instituted by or on complaint of the prosecutor shall be dismissed or finally determined in favor of the investigator, he shall be reimbursed for the expense of his defense. L.2003,c.173,s.9.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-11 County investigators in first-class counties

In counties of the first class there may be appointed not in excess of 30 county investigators, who shall be paid annual salaries of not less than $6,500.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, s.7, p. 637, L.1966, c. 265, s. 1, eff. Sept. 6, 1966.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-12 County investigators in second-class counties

In counties of the second class there may be appointed not in excess of 9 county investigators, who shall be paid annual salaries of not less than $6,500.00. Not more than 6 county investigators in counties of the second class with populations of 400,000 inhabitants or less, and not more than 21 county investigators in counties of the second class with populations in excess of 400,000 inhabitants, in addition to those provided for in this section may be appointed by the county prosecutor where there appears to be a reasonable necessity therefor, if approved by resolution of the board of chosen freeholders of the county. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 637, s. 8; L.1966, c. 308, s. 1, eff. Dec. 29, 1966; L.1970, c. 259, s. 1, eff. Nov. 2, 1970.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-13 County investigators in third-class counties

In counties of the third class there may be appointed not in excess of 2 county investigators who shall be paid annual salaries of not less than $5,500.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 637, s. 9.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-15 County investigators in counties of fifth class; compensation

In counties of the fifth class there may be appointed not in excess of 12 county investigators, who shall be paid annual salaries of not less than $5,500.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 637, s. 11; L.1981, c. 462, s. 9.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-16 County investigators in sixth-class counties

In counties of the sixth class there may be appointed not in excess of six county investigators, who shall be paid annual salaries of not less than $5,000.00. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1959, c. 161, p. 638, s. 12; L.1975, c. 280, s. 2, eff. Jan. 12, 1976.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-17 Service of process; fees

County detectives and county investigators may serve or execute for the sheriff any process or writ in any criminal proceeding and make return thereof. For every process or writ so served or executed by a county detective or county investigator, the sheriff shall be entitled to collect and receive the same fees, and to tax such fees in the bills of costs, as if the process or writ had been served by him. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-18 Payment of salaries; fixing salaries over minimum

Annual salaries of county detectives and county investigators shall be paid by the county treasurer upon the certification of the prosecutor out of funds of the county, in the same manner as other salaries are paid, and shall be not less than the minimum amounts in this act fixed. The prosecutor may, with the approval of the board of chosen freeholders, fix the salaries of county detectives and county investigators at amounts in excess of the minimum amounts in this chapter provided. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-19 Power of prosecutor to incur expenses

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the power of any prosecutor, duly conferred upon him by law, to incur expenses in the detection, arrest, indictment and conviction of offenders against the criminal laws of this state. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-20 County detectives and special officers; status

L.1951, c. 274, p. 946, section 20 of an act entitled "An Act to revise the law concerning county detectives and county investigators, and repealing sundry acts." (C. 2:181-51) saved from repeal. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-21 Saving clause

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, nothing herein shall be construed to require an increase in any salaries heretofore paid or to be paid in any county, unless and until the salary schedules herein provided shall be adopted by resolution of the county board of chosen freeholders. Nothing in this chapter provided shall be construed to reduce the amount of salary now being paid to any person, to affect the pension rights of any person, to effect the transfer of the holder of any office or position from the classified to the unclassified service of the civil service, or to terminate tenure rights vested, by the provisions of any law repealed by this chapter, in any person continued in office or position in the unclassified service. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-22 Limitation on number

In any county in which the total number of county detectives and county investigators authorized by this chapter exceeds the total number of officers employed in the prosecutor's office of such county for the detection, apprehension, arrest, indictment and conviction of offenders against the law, as of the effective date of this chapter, no new appointments as county detective or county investigator shall be made, other than to fill vacancies hereafter occurring, without prior approval as to the number and salary thereof by the board of chosen freeholders or, in counties of the first class having a population of less than eight hundred thousand inhabitants, by order of the Superior Court Assignment Judge of the county. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended by L.1953, c. 385, p. 2004, s. 1, eff. Aug. 14, 1953.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:157-23 Construction; "special officer" discontinued

It is the intention that this chapter be so construed as to make consistent throughout the state the law as it applies to the office or position of county detective and county investigator, to provide that county detectives shall be in the classified service of the civil service, and county investigators in the unclassified service and to discontinue the term "special officer" as the title of any office in the offices of prosecutors. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026