Southern District of California 2007 Project Safe Neighborhoods Program

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide commitment to reducing gun crime, links existing local programs together and provides them with necessary tools. PSN 1) takes a hard line against gun criminals, using every available means to create safer neighborhoods; 2) seeks to achieve heightened coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement; and 3) emphasizes tactical intelligence gathering, more aggressive prosecutions, and enhanced accountability through performance measures. The United States Attorney in each federal judicial district will lead the offensive. The fiscal agent, in coordination with the PSN Task Force, will allocate funds throughout the community.

The South District of California, through the County of San Diego (fiscal agent), will use FY07 PSN funds to build and sustain multi-agency coordination and community engagement in order to reduce gun crime and gun violence. The Southern District of California will fund programs that: 1) increase the investigation and prosecution of the illegal sale and possession of firearms; and 2) train the law enforcement community on PSN, Prosecution Protocols, and federal firearms laws and investigation techniques through Train-the-Trainers sessions, distribution of a DVD, and regional firearms workshops. Additionally, the District will conduct community outreach through: 1) producing and distributing to local media outlets PSN radio and television public service announcements; 2) conducting five community education forums in the target areas of San Diego, North County, El Centro, East County, and South Bay; 3) working with SPEAK UP, a national initiative that provides students with the tools to improve the safety of their schools and communities by reporting gun crime and threats of violence; and 4) distributing PSN posters and book covers to schools, recreation centers, and businesses, and displaying PSN ads on billboards and bus stops in the target areas.

NCA/NCF