Recovery Act: Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program-Category 1: Combating Rural Crime

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) solicits applications for initiatives which assist law enforcement in rural states and rural areas. The program helps rural states and rural areas to prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs.

The Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program, administered by BJA, helps rural states and rural areas prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs. In addition, priority consideration will be given to local law enforcement agencies in rural areas where the unit of local government is not eligible to receive a direct allocation from the Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program or received a direct allocation that was $50,000 or less. Applicants were invited to submit a proposal under any one of the following categories to: 1) combat rural crime; 2) improve rural law enforcement investigations; 3) enhance rural detention and jail operations; 4) facilitate rural justice information sharing; or 5) develop a national training and technical assistance program.

Under Category 1, Inyo County, in conjunction with the Inyo County District Attorney's Office, will continue the operations of the Inyo Narcotic Enforcement Team (INET), which conducts illegal drug investigations in every town within the county. INET will operate primarily within Inyo County and target street, mid-level, and upper-level narcotic offenders including highway interdiction. INET's goal is to control, reduce, and/or prevent criminal narcotics activity, including drug-related crime and violence, along the Southern border region of the United States. Funds will be used to hire an additional Deputy Sheriff Investigator. The new agent's duties will include investigation of manufacturers, distributors, lower- to upper-level narcotics dealers, drafting and service of search warrants, and report writing. The funds will also pay for that officer's 80 hour Narcotics Course, training for two agents to attend two DOJ-sponsored grant meetings, one in Washington DC and one within the region, and training for two agents at the California Narcotics Officers Association conference in San Francisco. In addition, INET will be able to replace the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS). CLETS communications are vital to INET's success to ensure confidentiality in investigations and prevent the delay of hard copy information sheets needed for court.

CA/CF