AK FY24 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Target Enforcement Area for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska 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 areas comprised of the communities of Bethel, Dillingham, Kotzebue, Nome, and North Slope Borough. The Target Enforcement Areas were identified using UCR data, PSN partner intelligence sharing, and community crime mapping. The illegal possession of firearms and the use of firearms in violent crime has been an area of concern within both the urban and rural target enforcement areas. Firearms were used in 25 of the 48 murders committed in Alaska in 2020.  Many of the firearm crimes within both Target Enforcement Areas are being committed by those with prior felony convictions. Violent crime in the Rural Target Enforcement Area is often fueled by alcohol. The communities experience higher than the national average incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.  

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. The partnership includes municipal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies sharing intelligence regarding people who commit violent offenses, 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 offenses for federal prosecution.