Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Awarded more than $1 Million to Fight Gang and Cartel Crime

Yakima, Washington - The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation has been awarded a million-dollar grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program to address active gang and cartel-related drug activity and violent crime on the reservation, announced Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

"The strong partnerships we have with the leaders of the Yakama Nation are critical to our shared mission of addressing the root causes of the MMIP crisis, which include combatting illegal narcotics and reducing violent crime. This grant demonstrates the Department of Justice's commitment to partnering with Tribes to ensure the safety and security of Indigenous communities," stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. "Working 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 says the funds will be used by the Yakama Nation Public Safety Department (YNPD) to dedicate up to four officers to the local county and Federal Drug Task Forces, purchase equipment, provide detention space, and provide essential investigative resources.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program is a U.S. Department of Justice formula grant program. The JAG program allocates funds to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, America 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).