State v. Gerns

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

COLEMAN, J.

The primary issue in this appeal is whether a school-zone drug offender who signs a plea agreement that calls for “cooperation” in State drug investigations and prosecutions in exchange for a favorable recommendation at sentencing satisfies the plea agreement by good faith efforts that produce nothing of value to the State. We hold that under the Attorney General Guidelines promulgated pursuant to State v. Vasquez, 129 N.J. 189, 609 A.2d 29 (1992), a defendant’s cooperation agreement can be satisfied only if his or her efforts are of…