Arizona Anti-Gang Initiative

The Anti-Gang Initiative provides funds to support new or expanded anti-gang enforcement and prevention efforts under the existing Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Initiative. These new funds may be used by the PSN task force to combat gangs by leveraging current strategies and partnerships developed under PSN initiatives or may be used to develop new anti-gang initiatives. The Anti-Gang initiative will be led by the United States Attorney in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across America. Grant funds will be awarded to a single fiscal agent in each of the 94 districts. The fiscal agent, in coordination with the PSN task force, will allocate the funds throughout the community to support the anti-gang initiative in that community.

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission serves as the fiscal agent for the District of Arizona's FY 2007 Anti-Gang Initiative. The District has dedicated efforts to reducing gang-related crime and, although a statewide effort, this project will focus primarily on Pima and Maricopa Counties, predominately due to the presence of gangs and gang-related violence, and counties along the border. These counties have experienced chronic gang issues resulting in organized crimes, home invasions, multiple murders, extortion, etc. as the traditional street gangs are now involved in money making operations instead of protection of 'turf.' To combat this situation, the grant will support Arizona's anti-gang efforts by funding the following activities: 1) increasing the capacity of local prosecutorial agencies to prosecute cases involving juvenile and adult gang related crimes; 2) supporting juvenile and adult correctional programs to provide effective re-entry programs to known gang affiliated inmates prior to release from custody and; 3) reducing youth related gang violence incidents by delivering gun violence prevention messages to the community.

NCA/NCF