Advancing Active Analysis in the Washington State Patrol

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under Category 4, the Washington State Patrol (WSP), Field Operations Bureau (FOB) will use its award to implement the Advancing Active Analysis in the Washington State Patrol project. The ultimate goal of the project is to enhance public safety in Washington State through reduction of fatal collisions and violent crime and strengthening the economy in Washington State through the creation of new jobs.

The WSP FOB Analysis Unit provides a data-driven and evidence-based approach to prevent and reduce of the number of traffic fatalities, violent crime, and traffic violations. The Advancing Active Analysis in the Washington State Patrol project will provide troopers with highly focused interventions on people, places, and contexts relating to the problems of traffic collisions and violent crime.

The four primary objectives of the project are to: hire two new employees, a Geographic Information Systems Specialist and a Crime Analyst; conduct context-sensitive analysis in support of data-driven strategies to reduce highway collisions and violent crime; improve current analysis and data-driven strategies to enhance the criminal justice system; and develop evaluation models that provide accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars.

CA/NCF