Washtenaw County Sheriff Street Outreach Team

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, including for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

Washtenaw County will use JAG funds to support the Sheriff's Street Outreach Team, which serves as the liaison between the streets, community residents, and law enforcement. The goals of the team are to bring about systemic community change to address the root causes of problems, empower neighborhoods to participate in the policing of their community, reduce the county's recidivism rate, and prevent youth from engaging in gang related behavior. The county will continue to identify, train, and hire former inmates to assist in relationship building with residents, facilitate prevention programs for youth, and assist residents in the development and implementation of a community revitalization strategy.

NCA/NCF