State of Arizona Project Safe Neighborhood Program

FFY2019 Arizona Project Safe Neighborhood’s Project Abstract
 

    The 2017 Crime in Arizona Report, published by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), indicates an increase of 13.3% in violent crime over the previous year. Of the 30,509 violent crimes reported in 2017, only 36.2% were cleared. In 2017, firearms were used in 65% of murders, 42.5% of robberies, and 26.8% of aggravated assaults. 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, local and tribal agencies. The PSN Task Force also will consist of community stakeholders from the faith community, neighborhood groups, or other social service disciplines to provide a holistic approach to violent crime reduction activities. 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 to complete the strategic action plan and 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 reducing violent crime among the identified crime hot spots in Arizona.