Arrest and Jail Alternatives (AJA) Law Enforcement Grant Program

The Arrest and Jail Alternatives Grant Program (RCW 36.28A.450) was established with the passage of HB 1767 in the 2019 Legislative Session. WASPC,  in consultation with the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) National Support Bureau  (“NSB”), was tasked with the development and implementation of a grant program aimed at supporting local initiatives to properly identify criminal justice system-involved persons with substance use disorders and other behavioral health needs and engage those persons with therapeutic interventions and other services, the efficacy of which have been demonstrated by experience, peer-reviewed research, or which are credible promising practices, prior to or at the time of jail booking, or while in custody.

The anticipated outcomes that applicants will need to address are as follows:

  1. To reduce arrests, time spent in custody, and/or recidivism for clients served by the program
  2. To increase access to and utilization of non-emergency community behavioral health services
  3. To reduce utilization of emergency services
  4. To increase resilience, stability, and well-being for clients served; and
  5. To reduce costs for the justice system compared to processing cases as usual through the justice system

The following is a short video outlining the Washington Arrest and Jail Alternatives Program.

 

2023-2025 AJA Grantees:
  • Blue Mountain Heart to Heart (Walla Walla)
  • Catholic Community Services (Olympia)
  • City of Airway Heights
  • City of Des Moines Police Department
  • City of Poulsbo
  • Gateway to Freedom (Port Townsend) 
  • Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic (Port Angeles) 

Please note: grants awarded under this program are separate and distinct from grants awarded pursuant to RCW 36.28A.440 and SB 5380. Grant funds may not be used to fulfill minimum medical and treatment services that jails or community mental health agencies are legally required to provide.

RCW 36.28A.450(9) requires WASPC to submit annual reports on the status of the program. 

2025-2027 Funding Cycle

  • Request for Applications (RFA) open January 8, 2025. Click here to view the RFA. 
  • Inquiry period Closes on January 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Applicants may submit written inquires to [email protected]. No further inquires will be taken or responded to after this date. Click here to view WASPC's response to written inquiries. 
  • AJA and MHFR Request for Applications Overview on January 23, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Register here. 
  • Applicants will have an opportunity to submit their applications for an initial overview for completeness.
    • Initial applications must be received by February 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
    • Feedback will be provided by February 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM. 
  • Request for applications closes on March 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Late applications will not be considered. Submit application here. The budget worksheet in the application link was corrected on 2/13/25. Please be sure that your budget worksheet represents the correct 2-year funding period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. 
  • Applicant Interviews and Scoring to occur the week of March 17, 2025 to March 21, 2025. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom.  
  • Award letters and contracts to successful applicants by June 1, 2025 (subject to conclusion of the 2025 Legislative Session) 
  • Grantee Orientation to be held via Zoom on June 18, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. 

For additional information, please contact:
[email protected] or (360) 486-2414