Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $381,874)
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 city of West Helena will use its award to implement the West Helena Police Department's (WHPD) Drug and Gang Interdiction Program. This program will educate and enable youth to reject the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; increase the safety of the city and county citizens by substantially reducing drug- and gang-related crime and violence; and develop community coalitions specifically among the faith-based and community organizations. The city will use the funds to hire an officer, detective, and a part-time project director. The funds will also be used to purchase a body microphone, an unmarked police vehicle, bulletproof vests, a laptop computer, a printer, and general supplies. The project will provide students in grades K'12 with gang resistance education and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention programs and policies that have been evaluated and are based on sound practices and procedures.
CA/CF