FFY23 District of Maryland Project Safe Neighborhoods

In 2022, Maryland continues to be affected by national violent crime trends with close to 600 homicides with gun violence attributing to 85 % of the criminal acts.   The Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) program focuses on violent crime initiatives throughout the country and specifically the State of Maryland.   PSN collaborators utilize funds to reduce violent crime in neighborhoods utilizing the following PSN core elements:  community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.  

Maryland communities benefit from the program as the PSN team identifies and prosecutes violent repeat offenders, dismantles criminal networks/gangs, and obtains partnerships with community leaders and citizens affected by the violence.    

The jurisdictions are awarded funds through a competitive solicitation process. The specific jurisdictions will be determined in their identification of violent crime patterns using data-driven strategies based on action plans, intended results and how the reduction of crime will positively affect the community. All awarded programs will be required to form a PSN task force and track their progress on specific performance measures to ensure their program’s effectiveness.

The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) is considering the following evidence-based interventions: Community Engagement, Education and Policing, Gang Task Force, Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs,  Problem Oriented Policing, Justice Reinvestment Initiatives, along with Focused Deterrence models.  

Maryland will provide funding to jurisdictions seeking to develop expanded multi-jurisdictional collaborations and information sharing to reduce violent crime throughout the State. Some of the key partners will be the United States Attorney’s Office, GOCPYVS, Maryland Parole and Probation, Federal Investigative Agencies, along with local and state law enforcement and prosecutorial teams.  PSN allows criminal enforcement strategies to prosecute violent repeat offenders who are small in number but cause the majority of the criminal acts.  PSN strategies support reentry efforts that can provide individuals with the skills, opportunities, and alternatives to prevent recidivism.

PSN will bring a multi-faceted approach in making Maryland communities safer.  In supporting  collaborative team building, PSN brings all the stakeholders to the table to identify violent crime reduction strategies best suited for the initiative.  When stakeholders have a voice they take ownership of the PSN strategy in order to make it successful.  These initiatives will routinely be assessed to ensure best practices are being utilized throughout the length of the grant cycle.