rural drugs

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 4, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department will use its award to enhance the collection and sharing of criminal justice information by implementing a paperless incident report system. The proposed data system will allow law enforcement to remotely submit incident reports, query the database to assist in investigations, generate monthly Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), and improve intelligence gathering efforts. The enhanced capabilities will allow more expedient response time to call, more efficient investigations, and aid in the overall public safety within the Parish. Grant funds will be used to purchase the necessary hardware and software, mobile computers, and air cards for patrol units. The Sheriff's Department will also use the grant to fund a Digital Records Database Coordinator, who will scan old records into the image processing system, maintain data records, and provide the necessary training to users.

CA/NCF