FY 2008 Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.

The city of Baton Rouge, serving as the fiscal agent for the Middle District of Louisiana, will use their FY 2008 PSN grant to continue Operation Eiger, which targets gun and gang-related violence throughout the district. Operation Eiger, initially created to combat gun violence, and expanded to include gang violence, is an intensive supervision program that targets high-risk youths with multiple offenses. The program also unites local, state, and federal law enforcement in a set of linked problem-solving strategies that include intensive supervision and monitoring, hot-spot surveillance, and street-level enforcement. The Eiger program is also linked with prevention and grassroots efforts led by the school system, youth service providers, health services, treatment programs, civic groups, and the faith community. In addition, Operation Eiger works in tandem with Project Exile to help facilitate expedited federal gun prosecutions. Eiger Teams operate at night on an overtime basis and conduct unscheduled visits to Eiger homes and neighborhood hot spots. Each Eiger (at-risk youth) is visited an average of 5.5 times per month. During these visits, the team checks for compliance with the terms of probation and assesses the individual's needs and family situation. Eigers who violate the terms of their probation or commit new offenses are severely sanctioned by the courts' zero tolerance policy. Grant funds will support overtime expenses for juvenile probation officers and Baton Rouge police officers.

NCA/NCF