FY 2023 Project Safe Neighborhood- Northern District

The Northern District of Mississippi consists of 37 rural counties.  As a part of its PSN initiative, the Northern District of Mississippi currently has two recognized PSN sites, but works closely with state, local and federal partners across our District to combat violent crime.  Currently, our two PSN focus areas include the City of Greenville, which is located in the Mississippi Delta and is a historic PSN focal point in our District since 2002, as well as the City of Tupelo, which is located on the Northeast side of our District.

Because the violent crime problem in our District is largely intertwined with drug trafficking and gang activity, our U.S. Attorney led task forces have attacked gun crime across our District and in our target areas with OCDETF investigations. Specifically, OCDETF investigations have been a key way to address violent crime and gun crimes in our Tupelo site over the last several years. Several ATF agents and task force agents have been assigned on a full-time basis to each of the multi-agency task forces conducting these investigations to insure that violent gun crimes are fully investigated and that those responsible are prosecuted. In Greenville, our office and its federal partners have worked closely with local law enforcement and prosecutors to combat crime, utilizing such strategies as crime-mapping, worst of the worst target lists, violent offender lists and proactive policing to target violent crime and aggressively prosecute offenders.

Our District continues to operate a Reentry Court that serves our two target areas.  The Northern District’s SCALE (Second Chance at Life) Program utilizes partnerships between law enforcement, social service providers, community members and faith-based partners to combat recidivism rates among high risk offenders.  Centered in Tupelo, Lee County, it has serves defendants from across the State who need support and assistance in reentering the community from prison. In addition, a Delta Reentry court that services the Greenville site was launched approximately four years ago and aims to help offenders from the Delta area with reentry needs.

 
This District is requesting a 2023 grant award to further assist our state, local and community partners in ongoing PSN efforts.  This money will be used over a two year period for proactive law enforcement efforts, community prevention and intervention, training and community education.