Gun Violence Reduction Efforts in New Jersey's PSN Targeted Area.

PROGRAM ABSTRACT - Project Safe Neighborhoods FY 2022

APPLICANT: THE ROSAMOND GIFFORD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, Inc.

                         126 N. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York 13202

PROJECT:      District of New Jersey Target Areas Enforcement and Prevention Enhancement – Camden, Jersey City, Newark

CATEGORY: 1

DISTRICT POPULATION:  9.267 million

FEDERAL FUNDS REQUESTED:  $331,859

PROJECT PERIOD:  October 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025

RESEARCH PARTNER: John Finn Institute for Public Safety

            The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of New Jersey serves a population of approximately 9,288,994.  Currently, there are three Project Safe Neighborhood Target Areas: Camden, Jersey City, and Newark and these areas will remain our focus under FY 2022.  Camden, Jersey City and Newark are included among New Jersey’s “Urban 15” cities with populations of 50,000 or more.  New Jersey’s PSN program is a collaborative effort to enhance existing task force initiatives to combat violent crime.

Our intent is to direct resources toward the gang violence task force and prevention of at least one of the PSN target area(s). Suppression and prevention efforts will focus in the three geographic areas and surrounding cities, building upon current gun and gang violence initiatives. The proposed project goal will be to reduce violent gang and gun crime in hot spots through targeted enforcement of high value individuals and groups, robust and effective prosecution of offenders, and through prevention and community engagement. Funding will go toward our objective of preventing, responding to, and driving down violent crime; effectively using intelligence to identify high crime areas and prolific violent offenders; and maintaining coordination among law enforcement officials at all levels.  Funds will be directed to local law enforcement agencies in at least one of the target area(s) to support their involvement in gang task force activities. The remainder of funds will be distributed to community partners in at least one of the three jurisdictions through a competitive process.

The John Finn Institute for Public Safety would serve as the research partner on the proposed project.  Some key partners include the local police department in the PSN target area jurisdiction; local sheriff’s department; county prosecutor’s office; New Jersey State Parole; New Jersey State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshal’s Service, and the USAO for the District of New Jersey.