The United States Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) assists states with crime and violence prevention through the Justice Assistance Formula Grant (JAG Grant). Funding provided by the JAG helps the state, local governments and certain non-profits to control violent and drug crime, improve operations, and build coordination and cooperation among the components of the criminal justice system.

In Washington state, the Department of Commerce administers the federal grant funding and works in conjunction with a multi-disciplinary advisory board to recommend program strategies to the Washington State Legislature. The State Legislature reviews these recommendations and directs the allocation to the state's JAG Grant award.

The JAG Formula Grant Program guidelines identify 7 Congressionally authorized program areas for which assistance may be provided. In the 2005-07 period, funded activities in Washington State included:

• Multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces/Drug Interdiction Programs
• Washington State Patrol participation in drug task forces
• Drug prosecution in task forces
• Domestic violence legal advocacy and training
• Services to victims of crime
• Tribal Law Enforcement

Approximately 60 percent of JAG Formula Grant Program funds are directed to local governments and agencies.

Determining which jurisdictions have the greatest need for assitance with violence and substance abuse prevention efforts is no easy task. Since drug and crime problems may require a variety of different responses from the community, one must look across a spectrum of issues to assess the level of severity in different jurisdictions.

JAG Advisory Committee Purpose

The JAG Committee is advisory to Commerce. The role of the committee is to:

• development of a statewide strategy for the use of the JAG Grant funds which includes an assessment of the drug and violent crime problems in the state;
• an analysis of the effectiveness of current efforts and a plan of action for addressing the problems;
• providing advice and counsel regarding the development and administration of the program, and;
• making recommendations to Commerce regarding funding of appropriate programs to reduce violence and drug related crimes in Washington state.

Membership: The Department shall appoint not less than 15 members ensuring representation
from the following groups:

• A local police chief
• A local sheriff
• Washington State Council of Police Officers
• Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
• Department of Corrections
• Department of Social and Health Services
• United States Attorney
• Washington State Patrol
• Substance abuse treatment providers
• Victim’s advocates
• Substance abuse prevention and education programs
• Superior or District/Municipal court judge and court personnel
• Nonprofit community groups which focus on issues of drug abuse and/or violence
• Local jail administraton
• Tribal law enforcement
• Representatives of the House and Senate Law and Justice Committees

Appointments will be for a period of three years, subject to reappointment. Membership will reflect the diversity and geographic interests of the state. The committee shall review the membership of the committee on a yearly basis.

JAG Committee Strategic Planning Process

The 2005-07 JAG Committee Work Plan identifies key dates and development targets for the JAG planning process in Washington State.

Strategic Planning

The JAG Committee has been carefully assembled to provide representation from state and local stakeholder groups including law enforcement, corrections, community groups working with crime victims, local and tribal government, domestic violence advocates, courts, prosecution, chemical dependency treatment, and federal prosecution.

Identification of need

The JAG planning process involves the incorporation of research, evaluation of  JAG programs and statistics related to the reduction of drug and violence related crime. During the current, 2-year (2005-2007) JAG Committee planning cycle,

the Safe and Drug Free-Communities Unit staff has focused on a systems’ approach