Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $139,432)
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, the city of West Branch will hire a Crime Data Processor and purchase law enforcement equipment for the police department. The primary objective of the project is to increase arrests and convictions. The Crime Data Processor will be responsible for tracking calls for service, uniform crime reporting, and completing quarterly reports regarding crime statistics. Equipment purchases will include portable radios, mobile computers, electronic recording devices, and a server. These upgrades in technology will allow access to vital key information and allow coordination of federal, state and local law enforcement resources, which is essential to arrest, conviction and reducing crime.
CA/CF