[directive] I am greatly appreciative of the contributions from all of the county prosecutors.  Your significant input and support in developing these revised plea bargaining Guidelines were invaluable.  The updated plea negotiation system will continue to satisfy the requirements of statewide uniformity established by the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Brimage, 153 N.J. 1 (1998).  As importantly, the revised Guidelines will help to ensure that sentences imposed under New Jersey’s drug laws are fair and proportionate, reflecting the nature and seriousness of the offense and reserving the sternest punishment for the most culpable and dangerous drug offenders.  The revised Brimage Guidelines will allow us to focus our prosecution efforts and make the best use of our limited correctional resources with a view toward achieving our ultimate objective to protect the public from the ravages of drug-related crime.  Once again, I want to thank all of you for your significant and helpful contributions to this vitally important project.  I also wish to thank the Conference of Criminal Presiding Judges for raising important issues concerning sentencing fairness.  Their guidance and encouragement are much appreciated.  _______________________________  [...]  Attorney General cc: [...], First Assistant Attorney General  [...], Director, Division of Criminal Justice • [...], Deputy Director Major Crimes, Division of Criminal Justice  [...] TELEPHONE: [...] • FAX: [...]  New Jersey Is An Equal Opportunity Employer • Printed on Recycled Paper and Recyclable  [...] REVISED  “BRIMAGE”  GUIDELINES  WHEREAS, the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Brimage, 153 N.J. 1 (1998), instructed the Attorney General to promulgate guidelines for use by county prosecutors to ensure statewide uniformity in tendering plea offers pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:35-12 that waive or reduce an otherwise mandatory term of imprisonment and parole ineligibility imposed upon conviction of certain drug offenses defined in Chapter 35 of Title 2C; and WHEREAS, the Attorney General on May 14, 1998 issued plea negotiation guidelines pursuant to the Supreme Court’s instructions in State v. Brimage (which are hereinafter referred to as the “original Brimage Guidelines”); and WHEREAS, the Division of Criminal Justice at the request of the Attorney General has conducted a comprehensive review of the original Brimage Guidelines, and has received helpful commentary and input from the county prosecutors, the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Conference of Criminal Presiding Judges, the Public Defender’s Office, and the New Jersey Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers concerning the need to revise and update the original Brimage Guidelines; and WHEREAS, it is appropriate at this time to revise and update the original Brimage Guidelines to ensure not only that sentences imposed on convictions for Brimage-eligible offenses are uniform in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brimage, but also to ensure that such sentences are fair, cost-effective and proportionate, reflecting to the greatest extent possible the actual culpability and dangerousness of convicted drug distributors so as to make the best possible use of available correctional resources and to promote the general and special deterrence of serious drug offenses; NOW, THEREFORE, I, PETER C. HARVEY, Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Criminal Justice Act of 1970, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-97 et seq., do hereby DIRECT the following: