Reducing Violent Crime in Rural Franklin County through the enhancement of crime analysis software, forensic evidence tools, and strategies to effectively serve and address populations in remote areas

Primary activities of the proposed project include acquiring equipment and technology to assist in combatting rural violent crime in Franklin County, Virginia. The County of Franklin service area covers 712 square miles of rural land and waterways, with a population of approximately 56,000 residents. The county is divided into six districts by law enforcement patrols, with one officer in each district. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency of this service area and is responsible for addressing all criminological aspects.

This proposed project would give the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office the ability to purchase equipment and software to advance criminal analysis and forensic evidence that leads to combatting violent crime. This equipment and software are not allowable in the smaller county budget that we are allotted each year and would play a critical role in advancing this department. These advances would support greater protection to the public from crime and evolving threats.