State of Arizona Project Safe Neighborhood Program

FFY2021 Arizona Project Safe Neighborhood’s Project Abstract 

    The  United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona (USAO-DAZ) is  focusing their efforts on (1) violent firearm and gang prosecutions, and (2) proactive  investigations targeting transnational narcotics trafficking organizations who are  smuggling firearms and ammunition from Arizona into Mexico. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona leads the Arizona PSN task force. Arizona’s  PSN task force is committed to utilizing a data- driven, evidence-based approach to  addressing violent crime across the state by increasing the usage of the National  Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) reporting and leveraging the City of  Phoenix’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center Initiative.

    Arizona’s PSN Task Force includes criminal justice representatives from law  enforcement, prosecution, and probation from Federal, state, and agencies. The PSN  Task Force will include community stakeholders from the faith community,  neighborhood groups, or other social service disciplines to provide a holistic approach to  violent crime reduction activities. An academic research partner and certified fiscal  agent for grant management services will complete the task force. The research  partner, Arizona State University, will provide the Arizona PSN Task Force with data  analysis to help identify problem areas across the state and gaps in data and NIBIN  usage. 

    The PSN Task Force will use this data analysis and leverage the partnerships the  USAO has created as well as initiatives such as Project Guardian, to implement the PSN projects throughout the state. These projects will include evidence-based programs  based on the five PSN principles of leadership, partnership, targeted and prioritized  enforcement, prevention, and accountability to reduce violent crime and recidivism. The  task force will seek to build upon successful regional initiatives, such as the Phoenix  Police Department’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). This program encourages  other law enforcement agencies to enter their ballistic evidence into the NIBIN  database utilizing IBIS equipment housed at their agency, improving intelligence. The  PSN Task Force will implement performance outcome measures to track and report on  the progress toward the goal of violent crime reduction among the identified crime hot  spots in Arizona.