State of Washington Byrne SCIP

The Washington State Department of Commerce proposes to implement the Byrne State Crisis Implementation Program for the state of Washington. This program will support state, local, and tribal efforts across the state, improving the implementation and enforcement of protection order laws and practices that can keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. Project activities will include establishing a Crisis Intervention Advisory Board; adopting an operations plan and budget; and making subawards to nonprofit organizations, consultants, researchers, government agencies, and other qualifying entities, building on efforts already started in the state. Among other things, subawards are expected to fund efforts:

Institutionalizing best practice protocols;
Developing and deploying trainings;
Building capacity and expertise within and among system partners;
Strengthening data collection and analysis;
Developing and distributing current, consistent, accurate, and easy to use information; and
Scaling up successful models already being implemented in certain communities.

Expected outcomes are:

Improved implementation and enforcement of the state’s protection order laws through concerted, coordinated, and timely actions taken by courts, law enforcement, victim advocates, prosecutors, and others working in and with the civil and criminal legal systems;
Improved awareness and understanding of the laws and fewer barriers to access through enhanced use of accurate, consistent, and current information for those seeking protection, filing a petition, helping those in need or at risk, as well as those ordered by the court to temporarily relinquish firearms; and
An increase in the issuance of protection orders and a corresponding reduction of injury, death, and other types of harm to individuals, families, workplaces, schools, and communities due to firearm possession by individuals who present heightened risk of harm;
An increased ability to measure effectiveness and identify barriers and opportunities for ongoing systemic improvements in public education, training, practices, approaches, and outcomes.