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 takes a hard line against gun criminals, using every available means to create safer neighborhoods; seeks to achieve heightened coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement; and 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 Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will use the grant funds to focus on increasing prosecutions targeting firearm-related violent crimes and other gun felonies by supporting the funding of two prosecutors assigned to major crime areas of the state, as identified by the FBI Crime Index. Prosecutorial work will center on forwarding the mission of the state's Northern District PSN Task Force, which aims to stop serious and chronic violent offenders, reduce illegal firearms possession, and deter potential violent offenders. Working in partnership with federal authorities, the newly hired/assigned prosecutors will be cross-designated to work with gun cases in federal court, allowing for the flexibility of prosecuting gun related violent crimes in the courts with the stiffest penalty.

NCA/NCF