Rural Agency Technology Advancement

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.

The city of Riverton will use its award to boost its crime reduction and prevention strategy. The Riverton Police Department will use the funds to increase patrol officers' ability to access multi-jurisdictional databases, hire two full-time officers and a part-time information specialist, purchase computer, communications, forensic and other related equipment, as well as enhance its coordination with neighboring law enforcement agencies. The funds will increase officers' access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), allowing them to immediately enter stolen property, increase the recovery of stolen vehicles within a short time of reported theft, immediately enter reports, reduce downtime, and ultimately allow access to offender information such as identity, criminal history, and other important data that would otherwise be unknown to the officer.

CA/CF