December 22, 2015
The state of New Jersey has pledged $2.5 million to provide police departments statewide with body cameras, Newsworks reports.
"What a body-worn camera does is give us an objective witness in a police-involved shooting and other use-of-force incidents," - acting Attorney General John Hoffman
According to Newsworks, the funding, redirected money forfeited by criminals, will be distributed to 175 local police departments in 20 New Jersey counties, as well as the Rutgers University Police Department.
The awards range from $1,000 to $125,000 per department, with some of the largest sums directed at Atlantic City, Mount Laurel and Gloucester Township, Newsworks reports.
Not every New Jersey police department applied for an award since the decision to outfit officers with body cameras is determined at the local level.
In an announcement of the funding initiative Monday, acting Attorney General John Hoffman also issued a guide with policies and standards for police departments' use of body cameras.
Read the full Newsworks article here.
