Project Safe Neighborhoods - Middle District of Florida

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 Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), serving as the fiscal agent for Florida's Middle District (FMD), will use the grant to implement strategies that aggressively focus on the prevention and prosecution of crimes involving the use of firearms, target gang violence and at-risk youth, and promote educational goals. The FMD will also establish intelligence and information sharing between law enforcement agencies within the Middle District and beyond when possible.

The PSN selection committee recommends that sub-awards be made as follows: State Attorney's Office ' 6th Judicial Circuit will fund an experienced Assistant State Attorney dedicated solely to gang prosecution; Fort Myers Police Department will provide electronic monitoring to track juveniles adjudicated for firearms and/or violent crime offenses; Brevard County Weed and Seed project will allow the Gang Intelligence Group to identify, document, track, and compile information on all gangs and gang members within the county. This project will improve the collaboration and sharing of gang-related information among local, state, and federal law enforcement to identify gang members and to investigate identified gang members for arrest and prosecution. The project will also prevent and reduce crime and violence involving guns and gangs by conducting community and street outreach; making presentations to day care centers, schools, and community groups; and by holding offender notification forums.

NCA/NCF