Eastern District of LA, PSN Initiative

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (USAO) encompasses thirteen parishes. In recent years these communities have been threatened by waves of violence that leave residents fearful and looking towards law enforcement and each other for support and safety. Communities across the 13 parishes are particularly vulnerable to crime because of changes in when and where violent acts are occurring. Whereas crimes such as car jackings, theft, robbery, and shootings were seen as occurring at night and often in high crime-urban neighborhoods, these crimes are now occurring in populated and frequently visited areas during daylight hours.  
 
With Fiscal Year 2024 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) funding, the Eastern District of Louisiana plans to focus its efforts on Focused Strategic Enforcement and Community Engagement. To combat the expansion of crimes within the community, the USAO has partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, such as, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshal's Service, the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana State Patrol, and local Sheriff offices. The goal is to work with local partners to identify perpetrators of semi-organized group violence and to work with community organizations to help restore a sense of safety and trust among residents. The PSN partnership is confident that with more public engagement between community partners and local law enforcement agencies that trust will be forthcoming and will result in the practices that will lower violent crime rates in the thirteen parishes.