Yakama Nation receives $1 million grant to prevent organized crime

Yakima County, Washington — The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program to counter active gang and cartel-related drug activity and violent crime on the reservation, announced Vanessa R. Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

“The strong partnerships we have with Yakama Nation leaders are critical to our shared mission to address the root causes of the MMIP crisis, including combating illegal drugs and reducing violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “This grant demonstrates the Department of Justice's commitment to working with tribes to keep indigenous communities safe. Through our work together, we will continue to build trust and foster stronger communities on tribal lands and throughout Eastern Washington.”

The project description for the $1,028,000 awarded to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation states that the Yakama Nation Public Safety Department (YNPD) will use the funds to assign up to four officers to local county and federal drug task forces, purchase equipment, provide detention space and provide critical investigative resources.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a grant program of the U.S. Department of Justice. The JAG program provides funding to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands for a variety of state and local criminal justice initiatives. The program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).