Anti-Gang Initiative Pass Thru - Eastern District

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 Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) serves as the fiscal agent for the Eastern District's Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Anti-Gang Initiative. The Eastern District is made up of 43 counties, most of which are rural areas, which have been experiencing an increase in gang activity. The OAG maintains a database in which cities and counties report gang information. According to the system's data, approximately 2,500-3,000 gangs are present in the State of Texas. The District will address and prevent further gang-related crimes and violence by implementing programs that involve strict prosecution and enforcement efforts.

Due to the alarming increase in gang violence, the OAG will utilize the Anti-Gang Initiative to award five sub-grants to help combat gang-related crimes and gun violence through increased prosecution, investigation, and prevention efforts. Specifically, funds will be allocated to the following jurisdictions and agencies: (1) Groves Police Department (fund equipment and training to create a Street Crimes Response Unit); (2) Inspire, Encourage, Achieve (provide professional development training, address causes of gang behavior, and provide opportunities for youth to become disengaged from gang activity); (3) Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (provide surrounding law enforcement with access to the County's gang database, which stores mug shots, tattoos, and gang information); (4) Lamar Institute of Technology (establish an e-Room to collaborate on-line with all levels of law enforcement, independent school districts, colleges, and correctional administrators; and host one gang-related seminar within the Eastern District); and (5) Texas Department of Public Safety/Tyler Office (continue funding a trained National Integrated Ballistics Imaging Network technician within the crime laboratory). Federal funds will cover: personnel and fringe (administrative costs); travel (local task force meetings and out-of-state Annual PSN Conference); contracts (five sub-recipients: personnel, counseling services, interpreting services, police equipment, tactical supplies, training, computer hardware and software, lab equipment, and audio/visual equipment); and other costs (public awareness/education materials).

NCA/CF