The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control drug trafficking, drug related crime, violent crime, and serious offenders. Based on their own local needs and conditions, agencies are provided with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most.
JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas:
- Law Enforcement
- Prosecution and Courts
- Crime Prevention and Education
- Corrections and Community Corrections
- Drug Treatment and Enforcement
- Planning, Evaluation, and Technology Improvement
- Crime Victim and Witness Programs (other than Victims' Compensation)
- Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams
During 2023, the Washington JAG Advisory Committee developed a Strategic Plan to guide the investment of JAG funds across the state. As part of the strategic plan, the following were identified as Washington's Priority Areas of Focus:
- Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement Examples of proposed projects may include, but are not limited to:
- Technical assistance provision to local agencies or organizations implementing programs in alignment with JAG Mission
- Assessments or gap analyses conducted through community-led efforts to identify needed services
- Advancing collaborative initiatives or implementation of collective impact models to leverage resources and avoid duplication of efforts
- Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy Examples of proposed projects may include, but are not limited to:
- Leverage/support existing programs/efforts; identify gaps or additional opportunities for support
- Conduct an assessment or gap analysis to determine the landscape of available victim services across the state and identify resource needs
- Provide new and/or unduplicated support services
- Community Safety Enhancement and Law Enforcement Programs/Support Examples of proposed projects may include, but are not limited to:
- Community partnerships
- Officer wellness initiatives and support
- Crime prevention strategies and education campaigns
- Multi-jurisdictional law enforcement collaborations and efforts
- Community-led safety initiatives
- Collaborative efforts to prevent violence against, and enhance safety and security for, election workers
In addition, the JAG Innovation Fund is a new initiative within Washington's overall JAG strategy. For the purposes of this initiative, innovative projects are new approaches or adapted efforts based on lessons learned from existing programs and projects, within communities. Innovative projects will offer fresh perspectives in an effort to advance criminal legal system improvement and community health and safety. Projects funded by the JAG Innovation Fund will work at the local, regional or state level to address emerging needs, and implement best practices or new ideas.
The intent of the JAG Innovation Fund is provision of resources to new and/or adaptive efforts within the above JAG Purpose Areas. Priorities include:
- Organizational or program capacity building
- New ideas, projects or promising practices
- Enhancing system and community collaborations
- Expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices
- Strategic planning processes, and data collection and evaluation
FY2024 Successful Applicants for Priority Area Funding can be found here: https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/dr4bst3xgw3xebcfe3it2dr3gklwbhx7
FY2024 Successful Applicants for Innovation Funding can be found here: https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/4oliscukk7mdszh9dspdqcm68fed1cs4
FY2025 Successful Applicants for Innovation Funding can be found here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/3d417c5
JAG funds cannot be used directly or indirectly for security enhancements or equipment for nongovernmental entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety. Additionally, JAG funds may not be used directly or indirectly to pay for any of the following items: