Western District of Arkansas FY 2008 PSN and Anti-Gang 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.

Arkansans for a Safer Arkansas, serving as the fiscal agent for the Eastern District of Arkansas (EDAR), will use the FY 2008 Project Safe Neighborhoods grant to continue education programs on gun safety and anger management for elementary age children in all Pine Bluff and Jefferson County schools. Also, the EDAR will work to reduce gang activity by identifying the different gangs and their membership in targeted areas of Little Rock. The S.H.O.T. (See It, Hear It, Tell It) program teaches a combination of gun safety, education of gun laws, anger management, and good decision making skills. A coordinator will be supported with the grant funds to schedule presentations, set up and dismantle presentation equipment, distribute materials to children, and collect presentation evaluations. Little Rock Police Department will use grant funds to pay officers overtime to perform extra patrols in areas of known gang activity.

NCA/NCF