Sanilac Jail Operations Offender Management 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 3, Sanilac County will use its award to establish an offender management system within the Sanilac County Sheriff's Department (SCSD) to aid the corrections personnel in sharing information among agencies and provide for the efficient management of offender populations. The funds will hire and train an employee to facilitate the management program and act as a liaison between SCSD and other rural jails and law enforcement agencies. The funding will also help develop the protocol for offender management and information sharing to occur; purchase software and hardware to facilitate the management program; implement the Offender Management Initiative utilizing the protocol, software, equipment, and extensive training in those areas; and evaluate the Offender Management Initiative within the jail and assess how it enhances collaboration between the jail and other agencies.

CA/CF