RCW 82.14.300: Local government criminal justice assistance—Finding.

The legislature finds and declares that local government criminal justice systems are in need of assistance. Many counties and cities are unable to provide sufficient funding for additional police protection, mitigation of congested court systems, public safety education, and relief of overcrowded jails.

In order to ensure public safety, it is necessary to provide fiscal assistance to help local governments to respond immediately to these criminal justice problems, while initiating a review of the criminal justice needs of cities and counties and the resources available to address those needs.

To provide for a more efficient and effective response to these problems, the legislature encourages cities and counties to coordinate strategies against crime and use multijurisdictional and innovative approaches in addressing criminal justice problems.