BJA FY 2021 Project Safe Neighborhood

PROJECT ABSTRACT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI

The Northern District of Mississippi consists of 37 rural counties.  As a part of its PSN initiative, the Northern District of Mississippi has created multiple violent crime/narcotics task forces to attack gun crime throughout the Mississippi Delta and in all four corners of our District.  The NDMS has identified as focal points several areas of the District that have experienced heightened gun, drug and gang problems, focusing on one town that has been a PSN site since 2002, and two new areas.  Currently, our PSN initiative focuses on the historic PSN site of Greenville, along with sites in the “Golden Triangle,” which consists of Columbus, Starkville and West Point, and a dual-county area along the Northern Corridor of our District that includes Lee and Alcorn Counties.

Because the violent crime problem in our District is largely intertwined with drug trafficking and gang activity, our U.S. Attorney led task forces have attacked gun crime in our target areas with OCDETF investigations.  Several ATF agents and task force agents are assigned on a full-time basis to each of the multi-agency task forces conducting these investigations to ensure that violent gun crimes are fully investigated and that those responsible are prosecuted.  Combining the OCDETF investigations with such strategies as crime-mapping, worst of the worst target lists, violent offender lists and proactive policing, we are targeting violent crime and aggressively prosecuting offenders.

Our District continues to operate a Reentry Court that services two of our target areas.  The Northern District’s SCALE (Second Chance at Life) Program utilizes partnerships between law enforcement, social service providers, community members and faith-based partners to combat recidivism rates among high risk offenders.  Centered in Lee County, it also has served defendants from the Golden Triangle area.  In addition, a Delta Reentry court that services the Greenville site was launched approximately two years ago.

This District is requesting a 2021 grant award to further assist our state, local and community partners in ongoing PSN efforts.  This money will be used over a two-year period for proactive law enforcement efforts, community prevention and intervention, training and community education.  For more information, please contact PSN Coordinator, Susan Bradley at (662) 234-3351.