The Justice Department recently awarded Louisiana’s East Baton Rouge Parish a $63.5 million grant through the Model Cities Initiative. The initiative was designed to support the implementation of comprehensive and innovative whole-of-city strategies that reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety.
The initiative directs nearly $300 million toward public safety strategies that strengthen law enforcement, improve coordination among public safety partners, and address the factors contributing to crime and recidivism. The Justice Department will work with jurisdictions to finalize and implement public safety plans and with local partners to implement public safety solutions.
East Baton Rouge Parish was one of four jurisdictions selected. The homicide rate in the parish over the past 20 years has averaged approximately three times that of large U.S. cities. Between 2021 and 2025, police responded to more than 12,000 shots-fired calls, more than 1,300 non-fatal shootings, over more than 1,200-armed robberies.
The other awardees are the St. Louis (Mo.) Police Department, Jackson, Miss., and the Jacksonville (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office.
Funding can be used for adopting new or improved technology, enhancing forensic capabilities and capacity, hiring sworn and nonsworn law enforcement officers and other personnel, purchasing or leasing equipment, and services that address mental health, substance use issues and reducing recidivism.