Our county's prosecutors and detectives are doing extraordinary work under challenging circumstances. A new state report reveals that while Atlantic County's Prosecutor's Office leads New Jersey in caseload and clearance rates, its dedicated staff members are among the lowest compensated in the state.
The numbers tell a striking story of commitment despite constraints. According to the state Attorney General's 2024 Staffing Resource Analysis released Tuesday, Atlantic County attorneys earn a median salary of just $82,100 annually—dead last among the state's 21 counties and nearly $30,000 below the statewide median of $111,600.
Support staff face even steeper disparities. These essential professionals—who manage victim services, evidence, and courtroom operations—earn a median salary of $43,000, ranking last statewide and falling nearly $20,000 short of the state average. That's less than half what their counterparts at the state Division of Criminal Justice earn.
Carrying the Heaviest Load
What makes these salary figures particularly noteworthy is the workload our local prosecutors handle. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Atlantic County received 4,613 criminal cases—more than double the state average of 1,910 and ranking first statewide. The office also cleared 4,304 indictable cases, again topping the state.
Atlantic City's 28 million annual visitors significantly increase public safety demands on our law enforcement community. Our prosecutors filed 1,204 detention motions, ranking third in the state, with 714 granted—second highest statewide.
"I could not be more proud of the men and women of this office," Prosecutor William Reynolds said. "Every day, our prosecutors, detectives and support professionals deliver extraordinary results for the people of Atlantic County, despite being among the lowest compensated offices in the state."
Historic Safety Improvements
The results speak volumes about our community's law enforcement dedication. Homicides dropped by half from 2024 to 2025, falling from 16 to just eight cases. Even more remarkably, the office achieved a 100 percent homicide clearance rate in 2025. So far in 2026, our county has experienced zero homicides.
Non-fatal shootings were cut in half, and total shootings plummeted 69 percent since 2021—from 45 incidents to just 14 in 2025. Shooting clearance rates jumped from 62 percent to 86 percent. Fatal motor vehicle crashes decreased 48 percent, and drug-related deaths fell 66 percent since 2022.
Working Smarter, Not Just Harder
How has the office achieved these results without increased funding? The answer lies in innovation and collaboration. The Prosecutor's Office has embraced technology, intelligence-driven policing, and data analysis to identify crime trends and deploy limited resources strategically.
Partnership has become paramount. The office works closely with local police departments throughout Atlantic County and state and federal partners, sharing intelligence, manpower, and resources. Their philosophy: "check the ego at the door."
The strategy focuses on targeted investigations of the small number of individuals responsible for the majority of violent crime, disrupting cycles of violence and preventing retaliatory incidents.
The Cost of Underinvestment
Despite these successes, understaffing shows in troubling ways. Atlantic County ranks 16th in criminal case backlog, 21st in domestic violence contempt backlog, and 20th in weapons forfeiture backlog per 100 monthly filings.
Retention has become a critical challenge. Since 2022, more than 100 of the office's 180 employees are newly hired. Those who leave cite salary and affordability as the sole reasons for their departure.
"Our team sees humanity at its worst," Reynolds explained. "They investigate and prosecute sex offenders, child predators, human traffickers, violent offenders, murderers, drug dealers and those who prey upon the vulnerable. They carry that emotional burden every day with courage and professionalism. This work is demanding, it is critically important, and it deserves the full support of the county."
As our community continues to benefit from historic reductions in violence and improved public safety, the question remains: how long can we expect our prosecutors and support staff to deliver exceptional results while being compensated at the bottom of the state's pay scale? The data suggests that investing in these dedicated professionals isn't just about fairness—it's about sustaining the remarkable progress our county has achieved.
