Jefferson County Drug Supply Interdiction Program

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, Jefferson County will use its award to support the Drug Supply Interdiction Program in reducing the flow of drugs into the county, decreasing the number of suppliers and users of drugs, increasing the seizure of drug suppliers' assets, and providing an increased rate of successful prosecution of drug crimes. Jefferson County will use the funds to retain one Deputy Prosecutor II and one senior Deputy Sheriff (Detective) who will both be exclusively assigned to investigate and prosecute felony drug cases occurring in the county. The county will also add one entry-level Sheriff's Deputy who will act as a Community Service Officer.

CA/NCF