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2009-11 Columbia County Improving Jail Mental Health Services Project

Award Information

Awardee
Award #
2009-SD-B9-0033
Location
Awardee County
Columbia
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2009
Total funding (to date)
$457,397

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $457,397)

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 3, Columbia County will use its award to support the Jail Mental Health Services Project. The goals include: 1) demonstrating to the community the value of proactive mental health services for those who are incarcerated; 2) reaching out to those who do not or cannot ask for treatment in a correctional setting; and 3) enhancing the ability to reduce the number of missed diagnoses of truly ill individuals, over-medication for manipulative behaviors, the risk of injuries to both staff and inmates, the use of force and restraint, the increased costs, and unacceptable liability for failure to have an adequate mental health services program in the jail. The jail mental health services will collaborate with existing mental health services in the county. Funds will pay for two correctional deputies and travel to mandatory grant training.

CA/CF

Date Created: September 15, 2009