Internet Services Program

The National Center for Rural Law Enforcement

(NCRLE) provides Internet access free of charge to

rural law enforcement agencies across the nation. 

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funds the program through the Rural Law Enforcement Technical

Assistance Enhancement Project. Established with 12

test sites in 1996, the NCRLE program expanded to

more than 1,000 agencies by April 2000 through continuation funding from the Local Law Enforcement

Block Grants Program administered by BJA.

The program offers free Internet access, for criminal

justice purposes only, to rural police departments in

cities serving populations of 25,000 or fewer and sheriffs’ offices in counties serving populations of 50,000 

or fewer.

The percentages of police departments and sheriffs’

offices online by April 2000 are indicated in the following tables.

Police Departments Online as of April 2000

City Population %

<2,500 42

2,500 to <10,000 41

10,000 to 25,000 15

>25,000 2

Sheriffs’ Offices Online as of April 2000

County Population %

<10,000 29

10,000 to <25,000 48

25,000 to 50,000 22

>50,000 1

Technical Support

In addition, requesting agencies will receive instructions on how to use software and unlimited technical

phone support via a toll-free number provided at the

time a request for Internet service is received. NCRLE

currently has four rollover technical assistance lines

and, during 1999, responded to 1,593 technical support

requests from law enforcement agencies.

Agency Site Visits

In 1999, NCRLE conducted 62 site visits in 12 states 

to provide technical assistance to agencies that were

online or waiting to go online.

NCRLE Site Visits, 1999

Alabama 4

Arkansas 12

California 3

Georgia 2

Illinois 5

Maryland 3

Rural Law Enforcement Internet Access,

Technical Assistance, and Training Program

Nancy E. Gist, Director

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Mississippi 1

Nevada 1

Oklahoma 17

Oregon 2

Texas 10

Virginia 2
Free Internet Software

Upon approval, NCRLE will mail any needed PCcompatible connection or Internet software to requesting agencies. Available software includes the following:

❑ Internet Explorer.

❑ Netscape.

❑ Outlook Express.

❑ Pegasus Mail.

❑ File transfer program.

❑ File compression program.

❑ Trumpet Winsock (Windows 3.x only).

E-mail Account

Each rural law enforcement agency may request an email account when its Internet service account is activated. The chief or sheriff can request additional e-mail

accounts from NCRLE for department members. 

Web Site Option

Each rural law enforcement agency will have the

option of creating and placing a Web site on the

NCRLE server to be viewed by anyone with Internet

access. Agencies have used this service to provide

information on crime prevention, most wanted fugitives, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)

programs, community contacts, missing children, and

community awareness, as well as tips and suggestions.

The content of each Web site is left to the individual

agency.

Hardware and Software Requirements

The minimum hardware and software requirements for

receiving Internet access are listed below:

❑ A 486/50-megahertz computer (or faster).

❑ At least 20 megabytes of available hard drive space.

❑ Internal or external Hayes-compatible modem 

(14.4 bps or faster).

❑ A 3.5-inch floppy drive.

❑ Super VGA video card.

❑ Windows 3.x, 95, 98, 2000, or NT.

❑ Access to one outside, designated phone line (can be

shared with a fax line).

All qualifying rural law enforcement agencies must

submit a signed Internet access form to receive this

service. Access to the Internet is accomplished via a

toll-free number that connects to the NCRLE server at

no cost to the using agency.

For Further Information

For additional information on free Internet access,

contact:

National Center for Rural Law Enforcement, a

Division of the University of Arkansas System

7723 Asher Avenue, Suite B

Little Rock, AR 72204–7503

501–570–8000 or 1–800–635–6310

Technical Support: 1–888–411–1713

Fax: 501–570–0100

World Wide Web: www.ncrle.net

For additional information about BJA grants and 

programs, contact:

Bureau of Justice Assistance

810 Seventh Street NW.

Washington, DC 20531

202–514–6278

World Wide Web: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA

Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse

P.O. Box 6000

Rockville, MD 20849–6000

1–800–688–4252

World Wide Web: www.ncjrs.org

Clearinghouse staff are available Monday through

Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. eastern time. Ask to be

placed on the BJA mailing list.

U.S. Department of Justice Response Center

1–800–421–6770 or 202–307–1480

Response Center staff are available Monday through

Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time.

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About the Bureau of Justice

Assistance

BJA, a component of the Office of Justice Programs,

U.S. Department of Justice, supports innovative programs that strengthen the nation’s criminal justice 

system by assisting state and local governments in 

combating violent crime and drug abuse. Established 

by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of

1968, as amended, BJA accomplishes its mission by

providing funding, evaluation, training, technical assistance, and information support to state and community

criminal justice programs, thus effectively forming 

partnerships with state and local jurisdictions.

About the National Center for Rural

Law Enforcement

Established in 1995 to meet the educational and training needs of rural law enforcement officials throughout

the United States, NCRLE has earned nationwide

recognition for its role in rural law enforcement and 

a reputation for excellence in the criminal justice field.

It is one of four centers within the Criminal Justice

Institute, a division of the University of Arkansas

System. NCRLE provides management education and

training, Internet access, an information clearinghouse

for grants and programs, and access to research and

technical assistance.

FS 000266

August 2000

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BJA World Wide Web Address

For a copy of this document online, 

as well as more information on BJA, 

check the BJA Home Page at 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA

Rural Law Enforcement Internet Access, Technical

Assistance, and Training Program Fact Sheet

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Washington, DC 20531

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300

PRESORTED STANDARD

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DOJ/BJA

PERMIT NO. G–91