Border Violence 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 New Mexico Attorney General's Office will use its award to support the Border Violence Initiative (BVI), which will develop a proactive law enforcement investigative capability for human trafficking, and increase services for extradition and/or foreign prosecution of wanted persons committing state offenses located in foreign countries, particularly Mexico. Funds will create positions of a Prosecutor, Special Agent, and Project Coordinator, utilizing a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional approach by providing direct assistance to local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors pursuing reports of human trafficking. BVI will provide statewide training opportunities in human trafficking investigation, prosecution, and victim assistance. BCI will also track the progress and increase in knowledge regarding human trafficking by implementing intelligence-led policing concepts, through collection and analysis of training evaluation, statistical data, and examination of training protocols. The Attorney General's Office will share information garnered through investigation, analysis, and examination with collaborative partners and others, including community agencies providing victim services.

CA/CF