Rapid Deployment Solutions Interoperability Project

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The Commonwealth of Virginia will use the grant funds to support their Rapid Deployment Solutions Interoperability Project (RDSIP). The RDSIP will provide a rapidly deployable and scalable set of voice, video, and data equipment; infrastructure; and technical support personnel to the Commonwealth's public safety community in order to provide temporary communications during large events and catastrophic loss of communications incidents. The project will show the capabilities and need for a commercially-based back-up communications system by conducting six exercises with state and local law enforcement to test its effectiveness. RDSIP exercises will be thoroughly evaluated by a third party for its long-term viability and will be used during real events, both planned and emergencies.

CA/NCF