Facilitating Rural Justice Information Sharing Initiative

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 IV, the city of Sturgeon Bay, in conjunction with the Sturgeon Bay Police Department (SBPD) and Door County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) will receive $689,471 to enhance information sharing among local law enforcement officers. Drug-related crime and violence have increased in the Sturgeon Bay area over the past several years. While the police department and sheriff's office staff have access to a reliable information sharing database in their offices, they do not have such access in their patrol cars while in the field. SBPD and DCSO will use the Recovery Act funds to equip patrol cars with hardware and software that will allow officers to access the database. Funds will also be used to retain an information systems technician and a police officer, as well as hire a support staff person, who will help maintain the database.

CA/CF