Upper Left BracketUpper Right Bracket

Welcome

Small, rural, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the Northern and Middle States of the United Sates represent a significant portion of this nations law enforcement. With this large geographical area, coupled with the general challenges of limited staffing, equipment, training and technical assistance, the need for additional resources for these agencies is critical for their continued success.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Northern and Middle States Rural Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance Program is an innovative new initiative designed to provide resources to small, rural, and tribal law enforcement agencies located in the Northern and Middle States of the United States and will support efforts in addressing precipitous increases of all types of crime unique to this region, to include human trafficking, sexual assault, extorsion, gang activity, murder, drug trafficking, and other forms of violent crime.

Lower Left BracketLower Right Bracket

Program Purpose

The purposes for the awards under this program are to:

  • Improve the agency’s investigative, intelligence, and/or interdiction capabilities.
  • Enhance information sharing, including investigative and intelligence data sharing with other agencies.;
  • Enable agencies to participate in projects within the Northern and Middle States.
  • Assist in projects/initiatives unique to an agency or its region; and/or
  • Improve dedicated communications capabilities.
  • Provide specific technical assistance that could include hardware/software, specialized equipment, and peer assistance.
  • Provide support for real-time crime centers (RTCCs) or intelligence centers that are either established or in development.

Available Funding

Law Enforcement agencies within the Northern and Middle States may request funding for equipment and items that support the program purposes outlined above--Including, but not limited to, K-9-unit support, (e.g., K-9’s, training for K-9’s, K-9 maintenance, and vehicle modifications for a K-9-unit); technology, such as license plate readers; and other requests for assistance. Refer to the Application for a list of eligible items.

Items normally provided by a law enforcement agency in the course of its mission are not included in this program; for example, vehicles, weapons, uniforms, radios, and other standard-issue items.

Agencies are guided to only request funding for the specific amount needed to obtain the requested item(s). Requests cannot exceed $150,000 per agency. For as long as funding is available, agencies may submit one or more applications—however, the combined requested amount cannot exceed the $150,000 cap. For example, the total amount a group of interdiction teams under one law enforcement agency can request combined is $150,000 for the entire agency.

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for this program:

  • Must be a small, rural, or tribal law enforcement agency located within the Northern and Middles States of the U.S. to include: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Alaska and serving a population size of 100,000 or less.
  • The purpose for the application must meet the program purposes outlined above.
  • The application submitted should only request those items that are eligible and not listed in the noncovered items described in Available Funding section above.
  • Have permission from the agency’s governing authority to receive the award.
  • If applicable, be able to provide law enforcement staff members with the necessary training on the use and implementation of purchased equipment or systems.
  • Be able to comply with post-award reporting requirements.

Applicants must meet the above eligibility requirements, submit a completed application, and provide timely follow-up documentation, if requested.

As previously stated, it is imperative that the agency has the appropriate approvals from their governing body to accept an award under this program. Also, if selected, the agency must comply with post-award reporting requirements.

Post-Award Reporting Requirements: Award recipients will be contacted by a representative from the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to gather information regarding the implementation and benefit to the agency for BJA reporting purposes and to also promote successful implementations to the law enforcement field. Recipient agencies are required to submit responses to NW3C—or allow a phone interview to be performed—in order to share the details of the implementation as well as identify any benefit to the entity and the administration of justice and public safety.

Review Process

Applications are pre-screened for eligibility and completeness. Applicants will be contacted to ensure that missing information is completed prior to BJA consideration. Eligible and completed applications are forwarded to BJA for review and approval.

BJA is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for making awards. Submitting an application does not guarantee selection. BJA will evaluate each application to ensure that it fits within the scope of this program and is congruent with the items covered, applicant eligibility, and the availability of funding. BJA may require additional information from the applicant to make an award decision. BJA will send a notification to the applicant agency of its decision to award or not award the funding.

Applications will be accepted until funding is no longer available. It is important to consider the review and funding time line prior to applying.

Application and Award Time Line

Receipt of Application Notification
72 hours

Application Review
Up to 60 days
following the receipt of additional information requested by BJA

Delivery of Funds
Up to 30 days
following the receipt of requested supporting documentation (e.g., equipment quotes, purchase orders, authorizing agency approval to accept the award)