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Administrative Division
Thomas White - Administrator

The Administrative Division of the Prosecutor's Office consists of 32 authorized support staff.

I. Description of the functions of the unit.

The mission of the Administrative Division of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is one of support, assistance and the facilitation of logistical, material and personnel services to the Legal and Investigative Divisions so that they may ensure the effective, efficient, and uniform enforcement of the criminal laws and the administration of criminal justice throughout Somerset County.

The Division’s responsibilities include:

  • management of the clerical, secretarial and support staff in addition to computer systems management. Annually, more than 81,000 pages of discovery are processed, 1,600 adult complaints typed and each secretary types upwards of 6,700 reports, statements and letters;

  • policies and directives development;

  • data entry;

  • purchasing, over 1,500 purchase orders are processed annually;

  • budgeting, development and administration of an $8 million + budget;

  • grant management – procured and coordinated grant funding of over $3.0   million to date;

  • management of the seized, forfeited, petty cash and confidential fund accounts;

  • pre-employment screening and background investigations, fleet vehicle management;

  • liaison to the County Police Chiefs/Directors and Educational Community;

  • logistical support for the Legal and Investigative Divisions; and

  • coordination of Community Justice Programs.

The Administrative Division has had numerous accomplishments which included the upgrading of office telephones, computers and laptops, cell phones (at no cost), office furniture, office equipment, photocopiers, fax machines, the installation of Promis Gavel on PC’s and the initiation of the Electronic Complaint Filing System. Additional accomplishments were Municipal Police Department Law Enforcement Trust Account/forfeiture fund audits, Municipal Police Department efficiency studies and operational audits, and the Annual Law Enforcement and Public Safety Community Day. Installation of high density shelving in storage areas, the renovation of the Evidence Unit and the implementation of handheld PDA’s or Blackberries that allow access to emails while in the field as well as cell phone service. Commanders of key enforcement and investigation units have been provided Mobile Data Terminal capabilities on their Blackberries allowing them access to CJIS, NCIC and motor vehicle records while in the field.

Future initiatives include the upgrading of the RMS or Records Management System known as INFOSHARE.

The Administrative Division also serves as the liaison to other County agencies, such as the Facilities & Services Department, Purchasing, Human Resources, Vehicle Maintenance, MIS Department, Printing & Graphics, Public Information, Finance Departments and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

First and foremost, the Administrative Division prides itself on the prompt response to inquiries and timely resolution of office problems and issues.

The Evidence Unit is also a part of the Administrative Division. Its responsibilities include the retention, securing and submission of evidence for laboratory analysis. All weapons seized by local police departments in the County in matters relating to Domestic Violence incidents are retained, returned or destroyed by the Evidence Unit as directed by Court Order.


II. Community Justice Coordinator/Community Programs

A. Project D.A.R.E./School Resource Officers/Character Counts
In order to ensure continuity and purity of the school-based programs at the municipal level the Prosecutor’s Office, through the Community Justice Coordinator:

  1. Monitors and evaluates D.A.R.E. /G.R.E.A.T./School Resource Officer Programs and Character Counts Programs within the County of Somerset as needed;

  2. Serves as a liaison between the County Superintendent, district superintendents, educators, upper management law enforcement officials, D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T. and School Resource Officers;

  3. Organizes and facilitates D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T., School Resource Officer and Character Counts trainings, as needed, and conducts workshops, meetings, in-service seminars and training sessions for faculty members, parent-teacher organizations and other professional organizations to promote the D.A.R.E., G.R.E.A.T. and School Resource Officer Programs; to heighten awareness and understanding concerning the drug problem in our county and state.

    Since 1989, under the direction of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, approximately 85,000 elementary school students in Somerset County were taught the D.A.R.E. 5th/6th grade curriculum.

B. PROJECT S.T.A.N.D.
(Somerset Teaming-up Against Narcotics and Drugs)

Since 1998 a countywide poster/calendar contest has been conducted for D.A.R.E. graduates. Twelve entries are selected as winners with the students receiving United States Savings Bond scholarships. The Somerset Bar Foundatio provides the savings bonds.

  1. Since 1998 an annual D.A.R.E. Day at the Somerset Ball Park has been held annually Each year, over 1,600 graduates and their families, along with their D.A.R.E. officers and teachers, attend . The event is sponsored by the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, the Somerset The Somerset County Bar Foundation, County Chiefs of Police Association and the Somerset Patriot’s baseball organization.

C. Annual Law Enforcement and Educator’s Conference

  1. In the fall of each year, a joint seminar for law enforcement personnel and educators is conducted at Raritan Valley Community College. Officials representing all Somerset County municipalities and school districts attend. Issues regarding protocols, communications, policies and procedures, Best Practices, crisis management and emergency management are addressed

D. Somerset County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Community Day

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office holds an Annual Somerset County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Community Day. Over 2,000 residents attend the day that was designed to bring the County Police, Fire and EMS agencies and the community closer together to discuss mutual concerns and inform the public of the many varied public safety initiatives underway in their communities.

Vehicles and equipment are displayed along with demonstrations by K-9, SWAT Rappel Teams, and other specialized units. Residents are also treated to live entertainment to include police color guards, marching bands, a fly-over tribute, a salute to our public safety heroes and military personnel overseas.

Special features of the celebration include the recognition of law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS professionals who also serve in the armed forces. Many of the public safety professionals are currently serving overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 2005 celebration was the first to be held in conjunction with the Somerville Fall Festival which is also known as the Somerville Street Fair.