Enhancement for Lake Village Detention Center

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 3, the city of Lake Village will receive $201,893 to enhance the services provided by the Lake Village Jail. Currently, the facility does not comply with Arkansas state standards regarding the number of employees. Although Lake Village Police Department (LVPD) currently cross trains the dispatchers and jailers, they currently have a total of four people who fill both positions. The lack of staff does not allow for both a male and female to be on duty at any time. Hiring three jailers/dispatchers would allow Lake Village to be in compliance with state standards. LVPD will use its funds to hire and cross train three additional jailers/dispatchers, purchase and install a digital radio system, increase jail capacity (due to additional employees) to 22 beds, and make additional referrals for mental health issues and drug abuse. Additional jailers and dispatchers would allow for observation of inmates allowing jailers to make referrals for evaluation for mental health, drug abuse, and other health-related issues.

CA/CF