FY 2023 - PSN Middle - State of Tennessee

United States Attorneys, working with state, local, and tribal law enforcement, are the cornerstone of the law enforcement response to crime in their jurisdictions, and are best positioned to take the leadership role in developing and implementing a crime-reduction program. This includes serving as a convener to ensure coordination among federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, and among existing initiatives and task forces that can help reduce violent crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has identified Metro Nashville as the location within the Middle District of Tennessee that has the most significant violent crime problem. In 2022, the homicide rate was increased by 7.1% and aggravated assault was up by 9.5%. The homicide rate in Nashville has exceeded 100 homicides in each of the past three years. Reducing the homicide rate in Nashville will obviously be a primary focus of our PSN efforts; we will seek to interrupt shooting cycle with aggressive enforcement of existing firearms laws and the use of specific resources (described below). To screen offenders more quickly and efficiently for potential federal prosecution, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) now perform daily screening of the day’s weapons arrests by MNPD. This “real time” screening prioritizes offenders with violent criminal records or those who have used firearms to commit violent offenses like shootings, car-jackings and Hobbs Act robberies for swift federal prosecution.