Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez (center) and Detective Nicole Crenshaw (far right) with Students
Recently, Esther Suarez, Hudson County prosecutor, and Nicole Crenshaw, detective, visited campus as part of the Criminal Justice Speaker Series. They held an informal discussion, taking frequent questions from students.
Suarez told students, “I wanted to help people but as a judge I realized that people needed more so I made the decision to become a prosecutor.”
The prosecutor’s office consists of 69 assistant prosecutors and 107 detectives; together, they investigate high-level crimes including homicide, large-scale narcotics and gang violence, to name a few. The relationships they have formed with the community helps them to do their jobs better.
“They don’t just need us,” said Suarez, “We need them as well.”
Detective Nicole Crenshaw (left) and Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez (right)
Crenshaw is a detective with the gang intelligence unit trying to dismantle gangs. She said rules around gangs in Hudson County could get complicated and violent since they are location based. In addition, the job is difficult because gangs are constantly changing. Suarez answered the question, will gangs ever be eradicated with the following answer:
“In my personal opinion, something is missing in these people’s lives in order to turn to gangs. What do we need to change? That is what we need to address. We need to turn to our legislature for services to provide care for the [youth] and programs to keep them off the street,” Suarez said.
Suarez was asked to provide advice for those who want to get into law enforcement. She suggested that becoming an agent at the prosecutor’s office was a good way to get into the profession even though it is entry-level. After working in this position, employees can prove themselves and then try out for the police academy. The office also hires many interns; contact Hon. Kevin Callahan, J.D. ’69, associate professor of criminal justice, at kcallahan1@saintpeters.edu, with questions about interning at the prosecutor’s office.
For those wanting to go to law school, she enforced hard work and dedication, “There is no secret, you have to start disciplining yourself right now to study hard and then study, study, study.”
She ended the conversation with, “You don’t go into civil service for the money. You have to love and believe in what you are doing to be in this position.”
Upcoming Criminal Justice Speaker Series dates are October 25 and November 29. All events are at 11:00 a.m. and are held in Pope Lecture Hall.
