SLAP not only provides a workforce within the county, it also provides a means for a productive family person to serve a sentence and fulfill a legal obligation, while maintaining employment and remaining with his or her family.

Acceptance into the Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program means that an offender must complete his or her sentence by performing community service under the supervision of Sheriff's Officers. SLAP participants report on weekends and are transported to a variety of work sites.

SLAP performs many different tasks. Seven miles of roadway have been "adopted" by SLAP. Litter patrol on that stretch of road, and others , has resulted in the recovery of over ten tons of litter and recyclables each year for the last eight years in a row. Last year (2002), SLAP picked up over 3000 bags of trash totalling over 18 tons. SLAP has painted Fire Halls and church buildings. They have helped beautify parks and playgrounds, washed fire trucks and police cars and they have spruced up streets in several municipalities.

While performing litter patrol on rural roads SLAP workers have found a variety of items, ranging from lost or stolen credit cards and guns to the remains of a murder victim.

SLAP is a "no-nonsense" program and failure to comply with the rules and regulations results in the offender being returned to the jail to serve the remainder of his/her sentence.

The Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program provides an important service to the residents of Cumberland County. Since it's inception over 3000 minor offenders have paid their debt to society in a productive, worthwhile fashion.

Cumberland County SLAP is supervised and co-ordinated by the Sheriff's Department, but those assigned to run the program work very closely with personnel from the Cumberland County Department of Corrections. The program is truly a joint effort of both agencies.

To be eligible for SLAP participation an applicant must be felony conviction free for at least ten years. Those that have failed to complete the SLAP or Work Release program in the past are not accepted back into the program. Applicants who have open criminal charges or are currently under indictment are not eligible to participate. Those with probation or parole violations in their past are also denied erollment. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program only accepts participants who reside in the state of New Jersey.

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The Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program conducted litter patrol on the South West Boulevard area of Vineland. Over fifty bags of trash were picked up in a very short stretch. Before and after photos can be seen here!