The U.S. Justice Department awarded this week $28 million in grants to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to support violent crime reduction efforts.
An additional $3 million was awarded to PSN for training and victim services as well as the development and implementation of crime reduction strategies.
PSN joins various stakeholders of the community together to identify pressing violent crime troubles and develop solutions. It also partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to make solutions stick. Proponents hope the enhanced funding will lead to the utilization of gunshot detection systems, ballistics, gun tracing and others offered by modern tools like crime gun intelligence centers. PSN efforts and strategies will be coupled with local police cooperation.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”
Since the announcement of the PSN program’s reinvigoration last year, the Justice Department said the number of federal prosecutors focused on violent crime has increased by more than 300. Resources have been directed at improving federal and local law enforcement cooperation, while civil asset forfeiture and asset-sharing efforts have been reformed and reinstated between state and local law enforcement.