WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Washington state is eligible to receive $36.7 million in funding allocations for state and local law enforcement and criminal justice assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. As communities continue to struggle during our country’s current economic situation, this funding also means that first responders won’t be laid off and can keep their jobs to keep our communities safe. The funding was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Cantwell supported.

 

“For years, the Byrne JAG Grant Program has provided communities throughout the state of Washington with funding to get more cops on the streets, more training and equipment for law enforcement agencies, and more help for crime victims and crime prevention programs for youth,” said Cantwell. “Washington state cities and counties can apply for this funding to create jobs, fight crime and violence and keep our communities safe.”

 

Cantwell has long supported increased funding for the COPS and Byrne JAG Grant Programs. Cities and counties throughout Washington state can apply for the grants right away, and the Department of Justice has announced that as soon as those applications are received, they will start getting the money out the door within 15 days. Grants will only be directed to programs that have been carefully planned and proven to work.

 

The JAG Program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. 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 programs; prosecution and court programs; prevention and education programs; corrections and community corrections programs; drug treatment programs; and planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.

 

The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. Sixty percent of the allocation is awarded directly to a state and 40 percent is set aside for units of local government.