Enhancing Rural Corrections, Detention & Jail Operations.

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, the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office will use its award funds to hire three full-time correctional officers, provide basic training for the officers and support travel costs for two staff members to attend two mandatory DOJ-sponsored grant meetings. Dunklin County Correctional Facility has a housing capacity of 175 nmates, and houses inmates from nine cities within the county. Due to recent budget cuts, the correctional facility is unable to hire additional full-time staff to operate the facility. Hiring three new correctional officers will provide for safer working conditions for employees, inmates, and the community.

CA/CF