FY 2008 Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.

The Savannah Technical College, serving as the fiscal agent for the Southern District of Georgia, will use the grant to combat gun crimes in the metropolitan areas of Statesboro, Brunswick, and Augusta. Grant funds will provide additional Spanish language programs in Augusta and Savannah, which will enhance communication with witnesses and identification of suspects and result in an increase in gun indictment cases. Grant funds will be used to continue media efforts that raise community awareness of the illegality of felons possessing firearms. This outreach campaign aims to work with the courts to improve their process for coding domestic violence convictions. The program will also work with judges to ensure that national checks are being performed before gun permits are issued. The Statesboro Police Department will use grant funds to conduct a storefront operation to identify gang members in the community who are involved in the illegal possession and sale of firearms, and gather evidence against them to obtain a successful prosecution in federal court. Officers will conduct undercover purchases of firearms and other contraband from these individuals at the storefront. Funds will also enable the expansion of storefront operations to other cities in the district.

NCA/CF