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, Madison County will use the grant funds to support the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) in combating rural crime. MCSO will hire a deputy who will be assigned to full-time crime interdiction on local, state, and federal roads in Eastern Idaho. This officer will be deputized to enforce laws and work in Teton, Madison, Fremont, and Clark Counties as well as the cities in each county. The officer will be assigned full-time to policing the roads in Eastern Idaho to combat crime, including DUI, drug trafficking and interdiction, gangs, and leads to other criminal activities, and will share information with database sharing groups. In addition, MSCO will purchase an SUV patrol vehicle, a mobile computer, and license plate reader to enable the officer to be more efficient.

CA/CF