Combating Rural Crime Initiative

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 Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department will create a Criminal Intelligence Task Force (CITF). The CITF will be comprised of a Detective Sergeant, two Detectives, a Computer Forensic Analyst, a part-time Support Services Worker, and a Criminal Records Technician. This will save and/or create six positions and create a unit and support personnel that will enhance the collection, analysis, and dissemination capabilities to combat rural crime within Siskiyou County. Funding will also be used to purchase surveillance equipment, data collection software, computers, GPS units, and necessary crime analyst certification training. The goal is to enhance criminal intelligence information and to access this information in the field.

CA/CF