Mark Musella was sworn in as Bergen County Prosecutor on May 20, 2019. As Prosecutor, he is the chief law enforcement officer of Bergen County – the most populous county in New Jersey and home to nearly 1 million residents living in 70 municipalities. Prosecutor Musella oversees a staff of approximately 270 personnel at the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”), consisting of Assistant Prosecutors, Detectives, and support staff. He also exercises supervisory authority over approximately 2,700 sworn law enforcement officers in 72 law enforcement agencies operating in Bergen County. In addition to conducting its own proactive investigations, the BCPO maintains specialized squads that assist municipal police departments in the investigation of crimes calling for increased personnel, specialized equipment, technical know-how, or highly specialized training. These crimes include arson, homicide, sex crimes, drug trafficking, traditional organized crime, domestic violence, financial crimes, and cyber crimes.

Prosecutor Musella began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Ralph A. Polito, J.S.C. He has returned to the BCPO, where he worked as an Assistant Prosecutor from 1988 to 1994, eventually serving as Assistant Chief of both the Trial Section, Grand Jury Section, and the Arson and Fugitive Squads. During his tenure, he prosecuted approximately fifty jury trials to verdict and handled hundreds of pleas, sentences, motions, bails and Grand Jury presentations.

In 1994, Prosecutor Musella left the Prosecutor’s Office for private practice and for the next 25 years, he practiced criminal and civil litigation. He has been a member of both the New Jersey State and Bergen County Bar Associations since 1987 and he was certified as a Criminal Trial Attorney in 1994. He has served as Municipal Prosecutor in Hasbrouck Heights as well as Public Defender for twelve Bergen County towns.

Prosecutor Musella graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in 1980. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Fordham University in 1984, and obtained his law degree from the Delaware Law School, Widener University in 1987.

A life-long Bergen County resident, he resides here with his wife of 30 years, and their two sons, and he remains active as a community volunteer.