Cartwright Announces Grant Awarded to the City of Wilkes-Barre for Police Overtime Pay

Wilkes-Barre, PA – Today, Congressman Matt Cartwright announced that a grant in the amount of $28,872 has been awarded to the City of Wilkes-Barre through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG).  The funds—shared with the city of Hazelton—will be used for training and overtime pay for the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. 

“Through this award, Wilkes-Barre will be able to support activities needed to prevent crime and make our neighborhoods safer,” said Congressman Cartwright.  “JAG grants provide our local governments with the flexibility to use these funds in the best way to improve local law enforcement and the criminal justice system.  It’s a good day when the people who need help keeping our cities safe receive this funding.”

The JAG Program allows states and units of local government to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions.  Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice.

JAG Program funds can be used for any one or more of the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

Rep. Matt Cartwright represents Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, which includes Schuylkill County and portions of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Northampton Counties.  Cartwright serves on the House Committee on Appropriations.