The Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative is awarding grants on a competitive basis to small law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices in rural locations. These grants will support improved training and technology, expanded community-based crime prevention programs, and partnerships with victim services providers. This initiative is intended to improve communication and collaboration between state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve in order to address the unique criminal justice challenges in rural areas.
Agencies are encouraged to see this funding opportunity as a means to support a cross-sector team engaged in problem-solving methodologies (e.g., the SARA model – Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment) to address local crime challenges. The ability of applicants to articulate the nature of the crime problem to be addressed will be critical to a successful application.
Funding proposals and requests may include, but are not limited to:
- Improve training and deploy technology;
- Improve communication and collaboration between state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; and
- Expand community-based crime prevention programs and partnerships with victim services providers.
Examples of allowable costs for equipment and services include, but are not limited to:
- Programs that support victims' services and community engagement
- Salary or overtime expenditures for personnel integral to violent crime reduction operations
- Crime analysis software or personnel
- Consultation services related to program design, implementation, and assessment
- Development or acquisition of offender-based risk assessment tools to better target investigation, intervention, or enforcement
- Development or acquisition of software, assessment tools, or services to better serve, protect, and communicate with victims and populations vulnerable to victimization
- Strategies to more effectively serve and address populations in remote areas, including ways to enhance orders of protection and improve access to services and shelter for remote populations
- Strategies and services to mitigate the risk for violent behavior in individuals dealing with mental health and/or substance use disorders, including crisis intervention programs and services
- Forensic evidence tools and services for identifying suspects or enhancing evidence, testimony, and outreach to victims
- Strategies, personnel, services, and tools to improve intragovernmental collaboration in effectively addressing rural violence problems
Equipment and services that are integral and directly relate to the proposed violence reduction strategies are allowable, provided that they are reasonable and commensurate in cost to the scale of the program.