Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $348,421)
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, the city of Byron will use its award to hire and establish a strategy to form a Uniformed Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team, which will work two highways and a major interstate transecting the city. The team will support the Peach County Multi-Agency Narcotic Unit, the Middle Georgia Traffic Network (a seven county law enforcement organization), and assist federal agencies and other neighboring rural communities. Along with detecting and arresting criminals, the team will perform educational events throughout the Middle Georgia Area and support related state and federal programs. They will target areas of apprehension and prosecution of criminals who use vehicles as a means of transportation in narcotics trafficking, drug distribution, gang violence, weapons, property crime, burglaries, and vehicle operation under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
CA/CF