The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is the State Administering Agency (SAA) for Washington’s allocation of the funds.
To ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of JAG funds, allocation to state and local governments is based on a formula using population and crime statistics in combination with a minimum allocation. Funds are split 60/40 between state and local recipients within states.
Civil rights, discrimination and federal grant programs
Any Washington program or activity supported by DOJ funds is subject to compliance with federal civil rights discrimination laws. Any client, customer, program participant or employee of an organization that receives funding passed through the Washington State Department of Commerce by the federal DOJ and other federal grant programs has the right to file a discrimination complaint. Any individual who feels that they have been discriminated against may file an external complaint. Applicable civil rights compliance policies and procedures and a civil rights complaint form can be accessed via the links below.
Civil rights complaints may be filed directly with the Department of Justice Office for Civil Rights, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Washington State Human Rights Commission reported to the Commerce Human Resources Managing Director by filling out the discrimination complaint form. Complaints will be forwarded to the Department of Justice Office for Civil Rights. Training for grantees is available through the Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights – Training for Grantees program.
Resources
The JAG Advisory Committee guides the implementation of Washington’s JAG program. The Committee is comprised of members who represent a broad range of roles in the criminal, legal, social services and public health systems. Leveraging their extensive professional expertise, Committee members help set current and future program priorities and support outreach and engagement within their networks.
Upcoming meetings
Past meeting materials
- July 15, 2025 JAG Advisory Committee Meeting (PDF)
- April 15, 2025 JAG Advisory Committee Meeting (PDF)
- October 15, 2024 JAG Advisory Committee Meeting (PDF)
- April 9, 2024 JAG Advisory Committee Materials (PDF)
- January 31, 2024 JAG Advisory Committee Materials (PDF)
- August 1, 2023 JAG Advisory Committee Materials (PDF)
- May 16, 2023 JAG Advisory Committee Materials (PDF)
Committee members
- Russ Brown, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
- Peter Browning, Commissioner, Skagit County
- Linda Coburn, Judge, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 1
- Dwayne Ford, Intelligence Research Specialist/Law Enforcement Coordinator. U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of WA
- Rick Johnson, Chief of Police, City of East Wenatchee
- Mac Pevey, Asst. Secretary, Community Corrections Division, WA Dept. of Corrections
- Stanley Phillips, Senior Victim Advocate, Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
- Steven Strachan, Executive Director, WA Assoc. of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
- Roger Wilbur, Captain, Investigative Assistance Division, WA State Patrol
- Steve Woolworth, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Evergreen Treatment Services
- Bureau of Justice Assistance
- BOJ JAG Program Fact Sheet (PDF)
- BOJ JAG Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) (information on statutory and application requirements, prohibited expenditures, required certifications, reporting requirements, etc.)
BOJ JAG Program Authorization
- Title I of Public Law No. 90-351 (generally codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151-10726), including subpart 1 of part E (codified at 34 U.S.C. 10151-10158); see also 28 U.S.C. 530C (a).
- FFY 24 Washington JAG Proposal Application Narrative (PDF)
- FFY 23 Washington JAG Proposal Application Narrative (PDF)
- WA JAG Innovation Fund 2024-2025 Successful Applicants (PDF)
- WA JAG Priority Area 2024-2025 Apparent Successful Applicants (PDF)
- WA JAG Innovation Fund Overview (PDF)
- JAG Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (PDF)
- National Policing Institute, Assessment of WA Byrne JAG Supported Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force Program (PDF)
- Slides from the Briefing on the Findings and Recommendations in Assessment of WA Byrne JAG Supported Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force Program (PDF)