STAR - Sheriff's Team Apprehending Re-offenders

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, Wilson County, in conjunction with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office, will use the award to identify the repeat criminals that target businesses and residential areas to commit criminal acts. Wilson County will use the funds to hire two investigative deputies and purchase equipment to target these repeat offenders, build cases against them, and successfully prosecute the cases in state and federal court. This team will work closely with the court system and surrounding law enforcement agencies, as well as probation and parole to identify the repeat offenders. Once the repeat offenders have been identified, the team will use investigative techniques such as surveillance and informants to identify criminal acts that they have committed. The Sheriff's Office will work closely with prosecutors in obtaining convictions and appropriate sentences.

CA/CF