DOJ Announces $2 Million in Police Grants for South Jersey

Last week, the Department of Justice announced that the First Congressional District of New Jersey will receive over $2 Million in economic stimulus funding to improve South Jersey’s law enforcement agencies. Congressman Andrews voted for this funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to increase federal assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies, which is vital to support the broad range of activities necessary to prevent crime and to improve the criminal justice system in our region. Recipients will receive their funding through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program and New Jersey’s total share is estimated at nearly $48 million of the $2 billion that is being distributed nationally.

Grantees may utilize funding for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, as well as research and evaluation activities that will improve or enhance law enforcement programs. This increase in funding means our local law enforcement agencies’ operating budgets will suffer less of a burden, allowing more money to be set aside for hiring more police officers, drug and gang task force agents, corrections officers, and other law enforcement officials. As our country’s unemployment rate reaches a 25-year high, the increased potential for job growth and preservation that this funding provides is extremely significant. Additionally, the boost in Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants will alleviate some of the public’s tax burden that would normally be required to fund these programs.

Eligibility for funding under the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program is based on a city’s level of violent crime in relation to its population. Among the municipalities in the First Congressional District, Camden City will receive the largest increase in law enforcement funding receiving an additional $1,113,736 in addition to their regular FY09 funding. The table below provided by the Department of Justice details a complete listing of the boost in law enforcement aid for the First Congressional District.

CAMDEN CITY    $1,113,736
GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP  $118,367
WINSLOW TOWNSHIP   $118,367
PENNSAUKEN TOWNSHIP  $101,861
LINDENWOLD BOROUGH  $101,209
DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP   $77,536
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP  $51,039
GLASSBORO BOROUGH   $49,736
MONROE TOWNSHIP   $34,098
VOORHEES TOWNSHIP   $33,664
WOODBURY CITY    $30,841
PINE HILL BOROUGH   $29,320
MAPLE SHADE TOWNSHIP  $27,583
PAULSBORO BOROUGH   $26,497
CLEMENTON BOROUGH   $23,456
WEST DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP  $23,239
GLOUCESTER CITY   $21,067
RUNNEMEDE BOROUGH   $17,809
HADDON TOWNSHIP   $17,592
COLLINGSWOOD BOROUGH  $17,158
MANTUA TOWNSHIP   $13,466
MAGNOLIA BOROUGH   $12,597
SOMERDALE BOROUGH   $12,380
PALMYRA BOROUGH   $12,162
WATERFORD TOWNSHIP  $12,162
WOODLYNNE BOROUGH  $11,945
LAWNSIDE BOROUGH   $11,511
STRATFORD BOROUGH   $10,859
BROOKLAWN BOROUGH   $10,425

TOTAL FOR 1ST DISTRICT OF NJ  $2,141,682

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