Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

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 Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety intends to utilize its FY07 PSN funds to address the illegal supply of guns to criminals and juveniles, and the illegal possession, carrying, and use of guns by criminals in the District of Massachusetts. These gun violence problems are to be addressed through a comprehensive and coordinated law enforcement strategy that focuses on those individuals and groups who instigate gun violence, and the strategic use of intervention and prevention programs to deter young people from becoming involved in gun or gang violence. The target areas for these efforts will be those communities identified by the U.S. Attorney's Office through crime reports and anecdotal findings as in need of PSN funds: Boston, Brockton, Fall River, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Additionally, a research partner will accomplish the following tasks: strategic crime mapping; temporal analyses of gun crimes; qualitative analyses of gun crime incidents; criminal history of gun violence offenders and victims; and a description of criminal groups and gangs.

NCA/NCF