New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

An nj.com article reported that the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program has provided Union County, New Jersey with $1,315,718. Many residents of the area are likely to applaud such funds considering that it will help support state and local government actions to improve the criminal justice system, as well as help prevent and control crime in Union County.

According to the report, Union County’s Freeholder Chairman stated, "Public safety is a top priority and this grant assures our police departments will be able to tap the technology and equipment they need to do their jobs."

The funding will be distributed in various ways, with activities ranging from juvenile curfew detail to new equipment for law enforcement to use. The grant will also contribute to community outreach programs, which require specific training that will be funded by the grant as well.

As New Jersey criminal defense attorneys, we understand the necessity of crime prevention and control as a means of improving the criminal justice system. Although no one initiative can solve all the complex matters surrounding the occurrence of crime, as long as the constitutional rights of all American citizens are protected, we can hope that just and productive action is being taken. On the other hand, such programs aimed at curbing crime raises the question as to whether law enforcement may feel pressured to make a certain amount of arrests to match the publicized amount of funding they have received.