Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $288,921)
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, Pulaski County will utilize its award to improve and enhance its rural detention and jail operations through the addition of staff for the Pulaski County Jail. Grant funds will create a total of five new correctional officer positions. The current caseload is 30 inmates to one correctional officer on each shift, and there is no manpower or ability to implement special programs within the jail system. The objective of this grant will be to hire new officers to reduce the average caseload ratio. This will allow staff more time to implement new programs to address the medical and emotional needs of addiction-related inmates. Grant funds will cover salary and fringe for five positions and OJP mandatory travel costs.
CA/CF