Alaska FFY23 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program

The PSN Target Enforcement Area for this grant application has been identified as two distinct areas: (1) the urban area identified as the geographical boundaries of the Municipality of Anchorage, and (2) the rural area located off the road system comprised of the communities of Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue, Nome, and North Slope Borough. 

The most recent UCR data available is from 2021. The District of Alaska has the fifth highest rate of violent crime per capita in the nation. Violent crime in the Rural Target Enforcement Area is fueled by alcohol with higher than the national average of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.  A historical report from Alaska Commission on Rural Governance and Empowerment found “alcoholism continues as an endemic condition that ravages individuals, families and communities in rural, particularly Native, Alaska.” Specifically, 97 percent of all crimes by Alaska Natives are committed under the influence of drugs or alcohol, with alcohol being the predominate contributor. The national violent crime is 387.8 per 100,000 people. In Bethel, the violent crime rate is 1,400.2 per 100,000 people. In Dillingham, the violent crime rate is 930.6 per 100,000 people. In Kotzebue, the rate is 677.1 per 100,000. In Nome, the rate is 4,205.1 per 100,000. In, North Slope Borough, the violent crime rate is 1,255.1 per 100,000. In all areas, the violent crime rate is higher than the national average. 

Proposed evidence-based interventions include concerted coordination with federal, local, and state law enforcement and prosecutors in identifying and developing strategic planning for violent crime reduction. That coordination includes municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies sharing intelligence regarding violent offenders, crime trending analysis, coordinating crime reduction efforts, promoting public and officer safety, improving police community relations, encouraging networking and communication between law enforcement agencies and swifter referral of state cases involving violent offenders for federal prosecution.  

The PSN Target Enforcement Areas were identified using UCR data, PSN partner intelligence sharing, and for the Municipality of Anchorage, community crime mapping.  

Key PSN partners include U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Law Enforcement agency partners, FBI, ATF, DEA, HSI; State Law Enforcement partners, the District Attorney’s Offices, Alaska State Troopers; Local Law Enforcement partners, Anchorage Police Department, University of Alaska Campus Police, Bethel Police Department, North Slope Borough Police Department, Nome Police Department, Kotzebue Police Department, and Dillingham Police Department. 

The proposed project time is three years.