(a)(1) The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, in consultation with the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, shall develop grant applications to be used under this subchapter.(2) The secretary shall consult with local law enforcement agencies when determining grant eligibility requirements and criteria under this subchapter.(b) Grant awards under this subchapter: (1) Shall be premised upon identifying and encouraging the adoption of law enforcement strategies that research demonstrates can reduce different types of violent crime, as determined by the Department of Public Safety, and improve violent crime clearance rates;(2) Shall target new initiatives and strategies to combat violent crime as proposed by local law enforcement agencies;(3) May be used to provide the following for law enforcement agencies: (A) Improved investigatory resources;(B) Technical assistance;(C) Law enforcement training;(D) Law enforcement equipment;(E) Contractual support; and(F) Information systems for criminal justice purposes; and(4) May be used to increase direct services to victims of violent crime through:(A) The provision and retention of victim-witness support; and(F) Information systems for criminal justice purposes; and(4) May be used to increase direct services to victims of violent crime through:(A) The provision and retention of victim-witness coordinators;(B) Enhanced accessibility to services;(C) Increased awareness of victimization; and(D) Partnership with local community providers to improve support and services to victims of violent crime.(c) The secretary shall give preference to applicants that demonstrate a commitment to regional, multijurisdictional strategies to address community safety issues and to work with community-based organizations and government agencies to address violent criminal activity and improve violent crime clearance rates.(d) The department shall administer all grant awards and expenditures under this subchapter under applicable state and federal law.(e) The secretary and the department shall only be obligated to comply with this section in years in which the Violent Crime Clearance Grant Fund, § 19-5-1282, receives at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) in funding.Added by Act 2023, No. 775,§ 1, eff. 4/12/2023.
Arkansas Legal Code