FY 2009 Recovery Act Rural Law Enforcement Program

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 I, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office will implement its street-level interdiction and crime enforcement strategy by creating and hiring six new positions within the agency for intelligence led policing efforts. Training for the deputies on street-level drug and crime interdiction and statistical analysis of crime in support of directed enforcement activities will be supported through the grant, in addition to the purchase of drug identification kits to be used in the field, fully outfitted patrol vehicles, and deputy uniforms.

CA/NCF