Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $150,000)
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 Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) at Luzerne County Community College's Regional Public Safety Training Center provides training to emergency responders in the following 10 counties in northeastern Pennsylvania: Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Sullivan, Columbia, and Northumberland. There are 151 police departments within the ten counties with many of municipalities having police departments with only 1-5 police officers.
Luzerne County Community College will use their 2009 Congressionally Selected Award funds to provide immersion training to police officers and tactical teams through the use of a firearms simulator. This will improve officer effectiveness in the use of firearms and increase their chances of survival in hostile situations.
NCA/NCF