Stephens Takes Reins Of Essex County Prosecutor’s Office

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County has its first “official” prosecutor in more than five years.

Last week, Theodore Stephens II was sworn in for a five-year term as Essex County prosecutor. Stephens had been serving as acting prosecutor since September 2018, when he was appointed to the position by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Stephens’ nomination was approved by the New Jersey Senate on Feb. 12.

It isn’t an easy job, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office:

“As prosecutor, Stephens is the county’s highest-ranking law enforcement official. He oversees approximately 400 employees, which include assistant prosecutors, detectives and support staff. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (ECPO) is the busiest prosecutor’s office in the state, and Stephens will continue to manage a demanding caseload. In 2023, the office handled more than 12,000 cases. The office also handled more than 1,600 juvenile prosecutions.”

Stephens, an East Orange resident, said he believes that law enforcement agencies should partner with local communities.

The county prosecutor said he takes a “multidisciplinary approach” when it comes to criminal justice, including diversionary programs and special courts for non-violent offenders.

Under this philosophy, Stephens expanded Operation Helping Hand, a diversion program where staff at the prosecutor’s office help people with opioid addictions find counseling and treatment.

“For us, that means going wherever the facts and the evidence leads,” Stephens said. “Sometimes that means pressing for a lengthy prison sentence for a defendant, while other times it means getting him or her into diversionary programs such as recovery court, mental health court or veterans programs.”

• See Related: Hundreds Are Trading Jail Time For 'Recovery Court' In Essex County

This fresh approach to fighting crime is paying off, according to the prosecutor’s office – Essex County is seeing its lowest homicide rate in decades.

• See Related: Homicides At Historic Low In Essex County, Prosecutors Say

Prosecutors have noted that every life lost to violence is a tragedy, and even a huge drop in crime is no reason for a “victory lap.” But sometimes, the effort to fight for a brighter future comes with a ray of sunshine, officials add.

Stephens shared the case of a Newark man whose family member was murdered, and who had this to say to prosecutors after the tragedy:

“I don’t have my sister back, but me and my family know that the team at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office did everything they could to locate and prosecute her killer and give us some sense of justice; for that we are forever grateful to them. The detectives, prosecutors, and staff treated us like family. I’ll never forget what they did for me and my family.”

Stephens got a vote of confidence from Murphy after his swearing-in ceremony.

“I am very pleased that Prosecutor Stephens has finally received Senate confirmation, and I know that he will continue to lead the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office with distinction over the next five years,” the governor said.

Stephens also got a thumbs-up from fellow Essex County resident, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who lives in Montclair.

“As a resident of Essex County myself, I am thrilled that we will continue to benefit from his passion, commitment and expertise,” Platkin attested. “He has been an incredible partner as we have worked together to combat the epidemic of gun violence, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to make our communities safer.”

QUALIFICATIONS

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office shared the following professional background about Stephens:

“Stephens began his legal career as the Eastern Region Attorney for Unisys Corporation, followed by serving as Corporation Counsel for the City of East Orange. In 1994, he was appointed a judge of the East Orange Municipal Court, and in 2004 was appointed to the bench of the City of Orange Municipal Court. In 2012, he was sworn in as the Essex County Surrogate, where he presided over the Essex County Court. Governor Murphy then appointed him to serve as Acting Essex County Prosecutor in September 2018.

“Stephens earned his bachelor’s degree from Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, and a juris doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He is a lifelong resident of New Jersey.”

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