U.S. Attorney Carpenito Announces $2.9 Million in Grants to Combat Violent Crime in District of New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. –U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito today announced more than $2.9 million in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime in the District of New Jersey. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

“One of the fundamental missions of government is to protect its citizens and safeguard the rule of law,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will continue to meet this critical responsibility by doing everything within its power to help our state, local and tribal law enforcement and criminal justice partners fight crime and deliver justice on behalf of all Americans.”

“Combatting violent crime has been a top priority of our office,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “It’s a job that requires resources and cooperation among all levels of law enforcement. We have worked incredibly hard to develop strategies that allow us to combine the efforts of our local, state and federal partners to keep our citizens safe. The grants announced today will provide us with additional tools in that effort.”

The funding announced today continues the Justice Department’s commitment to reducing crime and improving public safety. Recent data from the FBI and the Bureau of Justice Statistics for 2019 show a drop in crime and serious victimization for the third year in a row. However, a number of cities are experiencing conspicuous countertrends. Today’s grants will bolster crime-fighting efforts in those communities and in jurisdictions throughout the United States.

“Violence has become a tragic reality in too many of America’s communities,” OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan said. “Working with officials across the Trump Administration and with thousands of state, local and tribal crime-fighters across the country, the Department of Justice is leading the response to this urgent challenge. OJP is pleased to make these resources available to support innovative, tested and diverse solutions to violent crime.”

Of the more than $458 million awarded nationwide, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) made 1,094 grants totaling more than $369 million to support a broad range of initiatives, including efforts in enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention and rehabilitation.

OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded more than $10 million across 24 jurisdictions to intervene in and suppress youth gang activity as well as $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to continue operating the National Gang Center. OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded $7.8 million to fund research and evaluation on the prevention and reduction of violent crime. OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics provided more than $69 million to strengthen the quality and accessibility of records within the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The following organizations received funding:

BJA Community-Based Crime Reduction

CBCR leverages community knowledge and expertise to focus enforcement efforts on

crime “hot spots” ‒ neighborhoods where crime is concentrated. To generate long-term impacts, the program addresses a range of challenges.

• Newark Community Street Team, $915,000

BJA Strategies for Policing Innovation

Through SPI, BJA works with state and local law enforcement agencies and researchers to identify innovative and evidence-based strategies to tackle chronic crime in their jurisdictions.

• City of Atlantic City, $699,990

BJA Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combatting Violent Crime

The program provides state, local and tribal prosecutors with resources, training and technical assistance to implement technology and develop strategies and programs to address and prosecute individuals who commit violent crime.

• Cumberland County, $135,000

OJJDP Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression

More than $10 million was awarded to 24 jurisdictions under OJJDP’s Comprehensive Anti-Gang Programs for Youth. These programs provide funding for communities to develop youth gang intervention or suppression programs that aim to reduce violence.

Category I: Intervention

• Cumberland County, $499,791

National Criminal History Improvement Program

NCHIP enhances the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information to state, territory and federal systems used by the NICS and ensures the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background check systems.

• N.J. Department of Law and Public Safety, $666,616

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov