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Rule 3:12 – Defendant’s Obligation to Provide Notice

May 14, 2021 | Criminal Procedure, New Jersey

Rule 3:12-1. Notice Under Specific Criminal Code Provisions

A defendant shall serve written notice on the prosecutor if the defendant intends to rely on any of the following sections of the Code of Criminal Justice: Ignorance or Mistake, 2C:2-4(c); Accomplice: Renunciation Terminating Complicity, 2C:2-6(e)(3); Intoxication, 2C:2-8(d); Duress, 2C:2-9(a); Entrapment, 2C:2-12(b); General Principles of Justification, 2C:3-1 to 2C:3-11; Insanity, 2C:4-1; Lack of Requisite State of Mind, 2C:4-2; Criminal Attempt (renunciation of criminal purpose), 2C:5-1(d); Conspiracy (renunciation of criminal purpose), 2C:5-2(e); Murder (affirmative defense, felony murder), 2C:11-3(a)(3); Criminal Restraint, 2C:13-2(b); Theft by Extortion, 2C:20-5; Perjury (retraction), 2C:28-1(d); False Swearing (retraction), 2C:28-2(b); Controlled Dangerous Substances Near or On School Property, 2C:35-7; and Distributing, Dispensing or Possessing Controlled Substances Within 500 Feet of Public Housing Facilities, Parks or Buildings, 2C:35-7.1.

No later than seven days before the Initial Case Disposition Conference that is scheduled pursuant to R. 3:9-1 (e) the defendant shall serve on the prosecutor a notice of intention to claim any of the defenses listed herein; and if the defendant requests or has received discovery pursuant to R. 3:13-3(b)(1), the defendant shall, pursuant to R. 3:13-3(b)(2), furnish the prosecutor with discovery pertaining to such defenses at the time the notice is served. The prosecutor shall, within 14 days after receipt of such discovery, comply with R. 3:13-3(b)(1) and (f) with respect to any defense for which the prosecutor has received notice.

For good cause shown the court may extend the time of service of any of the foregoing, or make such other orders as the interest of justice requires. If a party fails to comply with this Rule, the court may take such action as the interest of justice requires. The action taken may include refusing to allow the party in default to present witnesses in support or in opposition of that defense at the trial or to allow the granting of an adjournment or delay during trial as the interest of justice demands.

Note: Source-R.R. 3:5-9A. Former Rule 3:12 amended August 28, 1979 to be effective September 1, 1979; main caption amended and former Rules 3:12 and 3:12A amended, combined and redesignated as Rule 3:12-1, July 13, 1994, second paragraph amended December 9, 1994, to be effective January 1, 1995; amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; amended December 4, 2012 to be effective January 1, 2013; amended April 12, 2016 to be effective May 20, 2016; amended August 1, 2016 to be effective September 1, 2016.

Rule 3:12-2. Notice of Alibi; Failure to Furnish

(a) Alibi. If a defendant intends to rely in any way on an alibi, within 10 days after a written demand by the prosecutor the defendant shall furnish a signed alibi, stating the specific place or places at which the defendant claims to have been at the time of the alleged offense and the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom the defendant intends to rely to establish such alibi. Within 10 days after receipt of such alibi, the prosecutor shall, on written demand, furnish the defendant or defendant’s attorney with the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom the State intends to rely to establish defendant’s presence at the scene of the alleged offense. The trial court may order such amendment or amplification as the interest of justice requires.
(b) Failure to Furnish. If the information required in paragraph (a) is not furnished, the court may refuse to allow the party in default to present witnesses at trial as to defendant’s absence from or presence at the scene of the alleged offense, or make such other order or grant such adjournment, or delay during trial, as the interest of justice requires.

N.J. Ct. R. 3:12

Last amended effective September 1, 2016.