The National Center for Rural Law Enforcement is a university-based organization with a practitioner orientation devoted to management education, research, forensics, computer and technical assistance for rural law enforcement agencies throughout the nation. The center works in close coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and other federal agencies. Some larger urban agencies hire full-time personnel to do research for grants then write grant requests. Smaller agencies don't have that ability thus frequently are unaware of grants for which they may qualify. Federal funding initiatives often omit the needs and priorities of rural law enforcement agencies.
Many crimes are unique to rural areas.
It does not duplicate existing services. Although selective programs may provide certain education and training for a profit, the costs, location, and length of these programs generally prohibit participation by rural law enforcement agencies. Most agencies have only sufficient training budgets to meet minimum training requirements of new officers. Typically, the bulk of a sheriff's budget is for prisoner constitutionally mandated maintenance and medical care. Only the residual is left to protect the community.