Arkansas law enforcement to receive almost $10M in stimulus funding

The DF&A is distributing $9.6 million in stimulus funds to criminal-justice programs throughout the state, the Arkansas Recovery Office announced today. The funding will come through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistant Grant, which is the primary source of federal criminal-justice funding for state and local jurisdictions. It typically only receives about $3 million in funding every year for Arkansas programs.

What will it be spent on? $3.5M will buy a new Arkansas State Police helicopter, which will be equipped with a hoist capable of deploying rescuers into remote areas not accessible by other means. The State Crime Lab is also purchasing new equipment to improve the efficiency of processing forensic evidence, and the DIS office will expand and upgrade the Arkansas Wireless Information Network with its additional grant money.