Multijurisdictional and Interoperable Mobile Solutions

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, Franklin County, in conjunction with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, will receive $379,998 to increase information flow among three law enforcement agencies and two correctional facilities, decrease the amount of response time between calls, increase the amount of time on patrol, and provide patrol units with instant access to a centralized database. Franklin County will use the funds to hire an information technology specialist and to provide multijurisdictional and interoperable software along with wireless mobile data terminals to all criminal justice agencies in Franklin County. The funds will also be used to purchase Panasonic Toughbook computers for all patrol vehicles of the partnering agencies. These laptops will allow patrol units to be dispatched instantly without miscommunication between officers and dispatch. The laptops will provide an officer with access to any of the files or record systems within the database and allow the officer to perform his/her duties more efficiently and productively.

CA/CF