Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs

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 2, the town of Damariscotta will use its award to increase resources to the Damiriscotta Police Department and the Midcoast Drug Task Force. This will ensure efficient and strategic tactical operations, which will result in more effective drug prosecutions and convictions. The funds will hire a full-time paralegal who will be the liaison between the law enforcement officers and the prosecutor, and who will assist in the preparation of drug cases for trial. Funds will also hire a full-time drug task force coordinator, who will handle the day-to-day operations of the task force. This will improve the function of their criminal justice system by reducing redundancies and streamlining functions, providing a better cost-benefit ratio for taxpayers, and ultimately combating crime and drug use in Damariscotta.

CA/CF