Project Protect

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Texas Engineering Extension Service will utilize the FY 2009 Congressionally Selected Award to implement "Project Protect" - a school-based curriculum designed to help prevent and respond to violent acts committed in the school environment. Funds will pay for staff time on the project, travel expenses to conduct school-based trainings, instructor supplies, contractual services for school-based trainings, student manuals, and indirect expenses.

Project Protect will be implemented during the three-year project to train school administrators, resource personnel, teachers and students in three secondary schools (Bryan, College Station, and Navasota) in the skills necessary to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from both natural disasters and violent criminal acts committed in the school environment.

The elements of the Project Protect solution include: assessment of the three facilities' security vulnerabilities, establishment of emergency operations plans, development of an incident command structure, training of law enforcement officers responding to an event, preparation of teachers to deal with disruptive students and students under the influence, and preparation of the administration staff for the recovery process.

NCA/NCF