Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $225,202)
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, Huntingdon County will use its award to support the Huntingdon County District Attorney's Office to reduce drug usage in the community. Huntingdon County is a rural area consisting of less than 45,000 residents and covering over 889 square miles (2000 Census Data). The funds will be used to hire a full-time detective as well as a full-time administrative assistant to be assigned to the Huntingdon County Drug Task Force, which is managed by the District Attorney. The Administrative Assistant will enable the Task Force to more efficiently maintain and manage records. The Detective will investigate drug activity on a daily basis in a proactive manner.
CA/CF