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Additional Information:

Federal and State Grants Program

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Department of Law and Public Safety is as diverse as the Department itself. Consisting of nine divisions (Alcohol and Beverage and Beverage Control, Civil Rights, Consumer Affairs, Criminal Justice, Gaming Enforcement, Highway Traffic Safety, Law, Racing Commission, State Police), the Department provides legal and law enforcement services essential to the functioning of State Government and directly affects the quality of life of all New Jersey's citizens .

The common theme underlying the Department's mission is the delivery of priority governmental services that protect the life, property and well-being of New Jersey. Specifically, we consider our mission to be threefold:

1. Protecting the well-being of the public by:
   
   1. Deterring criminal activity and detecting and prosecuting those who commit criminal acts, especially crimes that are inter-jurisdictional in scope or of statewide significance;
      
   2. Providing for the uniform enforcement of the State's criminal, traffic, marine, alcoholic beverage and public protection laws, especially those that prohibit discrimination and ensure fair treatment of the consumer in the acquisition of goods and services; and
      
   3. Maintaining public confidence in the State's regulated professions and in the amusement games, combative sports, casino gaming and horse race industries.
2. Providing legal representation and advice to State agencies, certain independent and quasi-independent authorities, and on request, to the Legislative and Judicial branches of State government; and
3. Maintaining custody and supervision of juvenile offenders and developing preventive options and treatment through a network of State and local institutions and programs.

As the State's chief counsel and chief law enforcement officer and as the executive head of the Department, the Attorney General has established certain priorities within the Department's threefold mission. They are:

• To defend Megan's Law at all judicial levels, including before the United States Supreme Court if necessary
  
• To investigate and prosecute organized crime and racketeering, in addition to those who seek to poison our children and ultimately society itself through the trafficking of illegal drugs
  
• To continue to provide sound and timely legal advice to all of our client agencies, particularly with respect to such topics as school funding and welfare reform; to address issues concerning the newly-formed Juvenile Justice Commission and to implement fully all aspects of the Administration's juvenile justice initiative
  
• To investigate and ultimately root out fraud in its many forms , particularly health care fraud and elder fraud

URBAN MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Law and Public Safety supports the Governor's Urban Initiative. In that vein, Attorney General Verniero recommended that a portion of the Reebok Anti-Trust Settlement Fund be distributed to support the efforts of the Urban Coordinating Council. This settlement, the result of a civil anti- trust suit, provided funds to the Department of Law and public Safety for the expressed purpose of improving, refurbishing, renovating and /or providing athletic facilities, equipment or services. The Department of Law and Public Safety will continue to support the Governor's Initiative in a similar fashion where and when the opportunity arises.

AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS

The Division of Criminal Justice administers the Federal Byrne Memorial Grant Program which supports a number of state, county and local programs designed to improve the state's criminal justice system. The Police Community Partnership Program is one of the initiatives funded under the Byrne Program.

The Police Community Partnership Program is a comprehensive, urban strategy intended to reduce crime, the perception of crime, social disorder and physical decay in a designated target area. The Program is designed to establish partnerships between the police and the community that ultimately enhance the quality of life for residents in urban areas. While each program is tailored to meet the needs of an individual target area, the programs must be comprised of four inter-related components--community policing, a violent offender removal initiative, the establishment of a safe haven and neighborhood revitalization.

Funding is competitive, restricted to those municipalities meeting defined criteria and available only upon announcement of funding availability.

Cities that have been designated as part of the Governor's Urban Coordination Council are given special consideration. Additionally, the Division of Criminal Justice is providing enhanced training for police officers of municipalities that are designated as part of the Governor's Urban Strategy.

The Juvenile Justice Commission supports services for juveniles adjudicated or charged delinquent and programs for the prevention of juvenile delinquency through grants to County Youth Services Commissions under the State/Community Partnership Program. The Partnership Program's goals include increasing the range of sanctions for juveniles adjudicated delinquent; reducing overcrowding in state juvenile institutions and other facilities; providing greater access to community-based sanctions and services for minority and female offenders; and expanding programs designed to prevent juvenile delinquency and promote public safety by reducing recidivism. Additionally, the Juvenile Justice Commission supports several community-based programs operating in neighborhoods/municipalities designated by the Urban Coordinating Council.