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Since its inception, a fundamental purpose of
ETCOG has been to provide assistance to local criminal justice
agencies in the region. This assistance is often provided
through funding projects which will help reduce crime, or
improve the criminal justice system, and through seminars and
technical assistance.
Special fees
imposed on offenders by the municipal, justice, county, and
district courts are collected in Austin, and then allocated
annually to the councils of governments based on regional
population and reported crimes. In 2004, over $2,000,000 was
made available to ETCOG to fund 45 criminal justice projects. A
portion of these funds went to 13 crime prevention and other
special units in law enforcement agencies. Funded projects
generally targeted drug-related crime, gang-related crime,
violent crime, and victim assistance. Through ETCOG’s Regional
Police Training Program, tuition was provided for over 1,900
peace officers from ETCOG’s member governments who attended
basic certification courses and advanced/specialized courses
provided through the East Texas Police Academy at Kilgore
College. ETCOG’s Regional Juvenile Detention Program provided
funding for counties that needed to place delinquents in
short-term and long-term detention.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECTS -
Projects designed to help reduce crime in East Texas are planned
annually. Priority needs of criminal justice agencies are
established and transmitted to the Criminal Justice Division of
the Governor's Office for funding consideration. This past year,
over $2,000,000 was distributed to criminal justice agencies in
the region.
POLICE TRAINING - Texas law
requires peace officers to obtain certification through a
minimum of 560 hours training. The East Texas Police Academy,
operated by Kilgore College, under a contract with ETCOG and
another council of governments, provides training for officers
in 23 counties. Last year, 32 officers in the ETCOG region
received the basic training required for certification by the
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
Education. In addition, 2,102 officers received specialized
training through the Academy, and 64 officers received funds for
out-of-region specialized training.
If you
have any questions, please call Angela Norton, Director of
Criminal Justice Programs, at 903-984-8641.
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