Project Safe Neighborhoods - Eastern District

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 California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), serving as the fiscal agent for the Eastern District of California (EDCA), will use the grant to fund programs to reduce gun and gang violence in the district. The PSN task force will support initiatives in Sacramento and Merced Counties. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department will support the assignment of a full-time deputy sheriff to the PSN task force. This particular deputy sheriff has been, and will continue to be, responsible for case referrals to the EDCA United States Attorney's Office. In addition, funds will be used to support one multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency gang and violent offender enforcement task force that will operate in Merced County. The funding will be used by the task force to conduct enforcement sweeps that will significantly reduce gang activities and related gang violence in these regions. The purpose of these enforcement sweeps are to seize, disrupt, and prevent gang violence before it occurs, by apprehending and prosecuting gang members for drug trafficking, firearms violations, parole and probation violations, and other associated crimes. Finally, funds will be used to continue support for a Youth Development Department in the city of Sacramento. This effort creates a city department to coordinate all local, state, and federal initiatives in an effort prevent gang activity through education, training, intervention, and support. This program provides for a Youth Gang Prevention Czar to coordinate these efforts and has been a very successful model.

NCA/NCF