Recovery Act Rural Law Enforcement Assistance: Combating Rural Crime

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, Stevens County will expand the patrol division by hiring three deputies. These positions will result in a 20 percent increase in the patrol division and provide badly needed resident deputies in the field. These deputies will become familiar with localized problems and become aware of groups that need specific targeting for enforcement action. It is also a deterrent to criminal elements to have a deputy sheriff in the neighborhoods that would otherwise be targeted for such behavior. Because Stevens County has such a large geographic area, having additional personnel residing in key areas will cut the response time to emergency calls for service. In addition, funding will be used for vehicle and personal protection equipment, including light bars and cages, radios, mobile data computers, ballistic vests, tasers, and cell phones.

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