Philadelphia Safety Net Program

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Philadelphia Safety Net provides hand-gun safety educational information to urban communities through collaborative initiatives and reducing the number of available guns through city-wide gun turn-ins (offering redeemable vouchers for groceries and clothing items in exchange for hand guns turned in under the supervision and direction of the Philadelphia Police Department). Philadelphia Safety Net's focus is safety prevention. The attempt is to help provide senior citizens and young children with a safer environment by removing hand guns that may pose a threat to the lives of Philadelphians.

Philadelphia Safety Net collaborates through partnerships with the Philadelphia Police Department, Probation Department, and the Philadelphia School District introducing the following programs: goods/groceries for gun program, gun safety tips and education (messages through the media and coordinating workshops with police in neighborhood schools), informational outreach to populations most at-risk for gun violence, and an educational curriculum focused towards school children.

Philadelphia Safety Net will use their 2009 Congressionally Selected Awards funds to:
collect 2,000 guns through the gun buy back events; facilitate gun-safety tip workshops reaching 200 adults in high-risk tegories/neighborhoods; introduce a firearm awareness/safety prevention curriculum at one elementary school and one high school reaching 200 children throughout the school year (100 elementary children and 100 high school children). The schools choosen will serve children in areas plagued by hand gun violence; in collaboration with 103.9 the BEAT radio station, design a handgun "safety tips" radio promotional effort reaching to reach over 10,000 high-risk people throughout Philadelphia.

NCA/NCF