Vermont's Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Grant

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 Vermont Department of Public Safety will use its award to add several justice information databases from state and federal agencies, create a functioning link with Vermont's behavioral health information exchange network, and improve the functioning of law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and corrections through the quick exchange of information. The project will also develop mapping capabilities, a more data-driven approach to the deployment of law enforcement officers. Funds will purchase a document exchange software that allows the exchange of information, a mapping component, and database connectivity for query purposes. Funds will also hire one information technology specialist who will serve as the project's coordinator and technical lead along with user administration duties.

CA/CF