Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $1,230,902)
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 Montana Department of Justice (MDOJ), Division of Criminal Investigation- Narcotics Bureau, will use the grant funds to create a Drug Diversion Unit. The goal of the unit will be to educate the medical community and the public about diversion drugs and to increase the number of criminal case investigations and prosecutions. MDOJ will hire four investigating agents, one prosecutor, and one administrative assistant, and will follow standard investigation and prosecution techniques for these cases. In addition, MDOJ will develop and implement a medical community and public education plan and will continue to work closely with local law enforcement in all counties of the state.
CA/CF