Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $261,357)
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 Squaxin Tribe will use its award to hire a full-time officer who will focus primarily on suspected drug activity within the Squaxin community. The officer will work in tandem with the Mason County Special Operations Group to combat illicit drug trafficking within the boundaries of the reservation and county. In addition, funds provided through this grant will allow the Tribe to proactively coordinate efforts between stakeholders and build new collaborations and partnerships with other jurisdictions. The Tribe currently has access to intelligence systems and will work diligently with Mason County to increase or enhance the number of submissions to an intelligence database in order to increase the effectiveness of apprehending those conducting unlawful drug crimes and provide tips/leads to other agencies. This will provide the Tribe with an effective methodology for controlling and preventing drug and alcohol-related crimes on the Squaxin Island reservation and Mason County.
CA/CF