Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $82,849)
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 Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy, the fiscal agent for the Northern District of Iowa, will utilize 2008 PSN funding to reduce gun crime and violence, increase gang suppression activity, and continue the screening of all gun crime and firearms related cases for possible federal prosecution in Cedar Rapids, Black Hawk County/Waterloo, and Woodbury County/Sioux City. The Department of Correctional Services, Sixth Judicial District in Cedar Rapids will designate a probation/parole officer to identify and interview all gang members under the district's supervision and share this information with local law enforcement electronically and at monthly intelligence meetings. Black Hawk County will continue to assign all firearms cases to a single prosecutor, who will work closely with felony drug and probation prosecutors, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Tri-County Drug Task Force on referrals to the County Attorney's Office. The Waterloo Police Department will provide overtime to officers for investigating and developing gun cases for prosecution. The Woodbury County Sheriff's Office and Sioux City Police Department will participate in multi-agency gang sweeps and provide overtime for officers to investigate firearms related crimes. The Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning will continue to screen persons arrested on firearms related charges in Iowa for gang membership and possible federal prosecution.
NCA/NCF