Project Safe Neighborhoods

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 Maine Department of Public Safety will use their Fiscal Year 2007 PSN funds to continue supporting the aggressive enforcement and prosecution strategy, accompanied by a fresh multi-tiered outreach campaign aimed at educating all Maine citizens of the consequences of illegal gun possession and the sale of firearms to prohibited persons.

The District's outreach component will consist of the following initiatives: 1) distribution of the booklets 'Federal Firearms Law Summary' and 'Federal Domestic Violence Statutes and Elements for Federal Prosecution' to the public, state and local law enforcement, defense attorneys, and high school students; 2) dissemination of the Gun Sellers Awareness Campaign through television and radio ads, as well as through printed kits for gun sellers; and 3) training of administrators and materials for the Project Sentry program. The law enforcement component will consist of funding overtime and related costs for the Central and Eastern Maine Violent Crime Task Forces to continue their investigative focus on armed career criminals, domestic abusers, violent juvenile offenders, and gang activity.

NCA/NCF