Tarleton State University Rural Law Enforcement Initiative

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 Tarleton State University will improve the crime fighting capabilities of law enforcement agencies within a seventy-five county Texas area by providing them with access to an information sharing and crime analysis database. Participating agencies will share information electronically via their records management systems (RMS). Tarleton State University will provide the database, training, and administrative assistance at no cost to the agencies. The Tarleton State University will provide financial assistance for the cost of records management systems (RMS) to agencies who cannot afford the cost of RMS, or whose RMS is incapable of electronic data sharing. Services will be expanded to include court systems and the general public. The Tarleton State University's staff will maintain records of the number of agencies that are able to access and share information electronically at all stages of implementation, and will document situations in which law enforcement agencies, courts, and the public benefit from system capabilities and enhancements. Tarleton State University will track RMS acquisition and implementation. Providing agencies with these technologies will afford them access to sophisticated crime fighting tools that is unprecedented due to hardware, software, and support costs. Court systems will be more efficient. The public will have greater access to offender information.

NCA/NCF