Reducing Drug, Gang, Gun, and School Violence Projects

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 Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, serving as the fiscal agent for the Central District of Illinois, will use the grant to continue the successful violence reduction strategies implemented by the cities of Decatur and Galesburg, the Quad Cities area, and the Illinois Sheriff's Association. The goals are to reduce gun and gang violence, as well as reduce school violence. The city of Decatur has two Remotely Operated Video (ROV) surveillance cameras that assisted the police division with removing 84 hand guns from individuals in their fiscal year 2008-2009. The city will purchase and operate two additional ROV cameras so that the police can expand this successful strategy to take guns off the street and disrupt narcotics trafficking and gun violence. The city of Galesburg will use funds to expand the number of street enforcement teams deployed in the areas of the city with the highest number of incidents of drug and violent activities. The Quad Cities Drug and Gun (DRAGUN) group will use funds to continue directed, saturated patrols and surveillance. The Illinois Sheriff's Association will use funds to continue DARE/School Resource Officer (SRO) summit meetings in the Central District population centers. These summits provide local law enforcement agencies and sheriff's departments, prosecutors, and school personnel the opportunity to meet to address school violence and to work cooperatively to develop violence prevention and intervention strategies. These summits have fostered better communication and closer cooperation between law enforcement and school personnel.

NCA/NCF