BJA FY 2021 Project Safe Neighborhood

The City of St. Louis in the Eastern District of Missouri confronts a chronically high level of violence, specifically firearm violence. According the FBI's uniform crime report, St. Louis was ranked the most violent city in the U.S in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. St. Louis' population was estimated to be 306,875 in 2019.The population is estimated to drop slightly below 300,000 in 2020.

In a 3 year period from 2017-2019 total crime in the PSN selected neighborhoods rose slightly (.66%) but there were reductions in homicides (15.85%), aggravated assaults (8.07%) and aggravated assaults with firearms (10.06%). However, for the same period, only 41.9% of 585 homicides were cleared by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) as reported by its Homicide Division. Substantial reductions are necessary for St. Louis to have safe neighborhoods.   The City of St. Louis as a whole saw 264 homicides in 2020, a 36.1% increase compared to 2019.

However, in 2020, the PSN target neighborhoods saw a 15.75% decrease in total crime and 10 of the 15 neighborhoods saw the homicide rate either reduced or show no change from 2019.

Funding is requested for the grant period of October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2024 to impact violent crime in St. Louis. Consistently rated as among the most violent cities over 100,000 population, the City of St. Louis has the highest homicide rate in the United States, based on Part I (Violent Crime) Uniform Crime Reporting Data by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2018, there were 60.9 homicides per 100,000 residents, more than 10 times the national homicide rate [5.0 in 2018].

The Violent Crime Working Group, the Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Task Force assembled by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri has used detailed crime data analysis, including data from the Gun Crime Intelligence Center, to identify smaller geographic areas within the City of St. Louis that is experiencing a large percentage of the violent crime throughout the city. The Working Group includes 20+ state, law enforcement and community organizations (e.g., BATF, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan St. Louis Police Department, Urban League and multiple community organizations.- please see list in program narrative) that are actively working within the distressed St. Louis metropolitan areas to provide resources and assistance to citizens who are experiencing this disproportionate level of violence in their neighborhoods. The goal is to reduce the homicide rate.

The Working Group relies on crime data and other related quantitative and qualitative measures to identify the areas within the District that are experiencing the most significant violent crime problems. The Group then develops evidence-based strategies to reduce crime. Working Group law enforcement partners meet on a bi-weekly basis to focus efforts on successfully prosecuting offenders.