2021 Oklahoma Project Safe Neighborhood - Western District

Operation 922 began in the Western District with the 2018 PSN grant. This grant placed a SAUSA within the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office and the role focuses on identifying proper cases for federal firearm prosecution and prosecuting the worst gang and domestic violence offenders. The 2019 grant expanded the success of the 2018 grant by cross-deputizing a law enforcement officer with the ATF in order to better prosecute investigations of domestic violence and track firearms associated with these crimes. The 2020 grant will begin on July 1, 2021 and will enable Oklahoma County to continue the SAUSA’s role and effort toward the overall goals of Operation 922. The SAUSA’s responsibilities also include outreach and training for law enforcement officers, junior prosecutors, advocate groups, and victims’ rights groups. The 2021 PSN grant proposes to strengthen the overall success of the Western District’s project of prosecuting the worst domestic violence offenders, including the gang members and associates connected to this violence. At this time, a subgrantee has not been chosen for the 2021 PSN grant, although placing a SAUSA within Oklahoma County is a priority area. According to the Uniform Crime Report, domestic violence in the state has increased 1.6% from 2018 so the project still represents a great need for the district as a whole.