Create a single point of contact to the juvenile justice system in Crook County, Wyoming and to provide diversion services and enhanced probation services to youth.

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 3, the Crook County Community Juvenile Services Board will use its award to hire five new employees. The Community Juvenile Services Board was developed to create a uniform system of service for youth charged for violations of law. The current juvenile justice system is very complex due to limited communication among the various law enforcement agencies and courts. As a result, outcomes for youth may vary for similar offenses and under similar conditions. The Community Juvenile Services Board will facilitate a coordinated approach to local juvenile justice by delivering services to youth.

The Crook County Community Juvenile Services Board will hire an administrator, administrative secretary, and three community/school-based youth services officers. These positions will provide services addressing the substance abuse and mental health needs of pre-trial and sentenced juveniles under community supervision. The program will assist law enforcement personnel by providing alternatives to the court such as school-based supervision of adjudicated youth, school-based mentorship/supervision of youth referred by schools or by law enforcement, and community-based educational and recreational programs targeted toward the needs of youth under the jurisdiction of the Community Juvenile Services Board.

CA/CF