Clarke County Virginia Sheriff's Office Mobile Data Terminal Project

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 4, Clarke County will use the grant to support the Clarke County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). Funds will purchase mobile data terminals (MDTs) to enhance information sharing, and support a communications director position to oversee the implementation of the project. The acquisition of MDTs will provide all sworn staff with the ability to have unlimited access to data accumulated by police agencies across the United States. Currently, CCSO deputies must rely on a communications officer to gather, analyze, and retransmit information through two-way radios. The lack of ability to retrieve images, such as photos from security cameras or pictures from a driver's license, is a substantial officer safety issue. The MDTs will allow access to databases, as well as access to certain Internet protocol-based security cameras.

CA/CF