Opening Community Transitional Center to enhance corrections operations by funding additional Correctional Officers, a Job Development Officer and a Case Manager.

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, Sullivan County will use its award to develop an intensive drug treatment program located within the Sullivan County Jail, followed by a day reporting center for offenders at the end of their sentence. The county has a high rate of substance abuse and one of the third highest rates of poverty in the state of New Hampshire. There are limited resources for offenders as they transition back to the community. Sullivan County has begun to offer reentry services that offer work release programs and some treatment classes at the main facility. Therefore, funds will enhance this program by hiring a reentry case manager to provide transitional services and day reporting services, three correctional officer positions, and a Job Development Officer.

CA/CF