Southern District of California Project Safe Neighborhoods

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 San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), serving as the fiscal agent for the Southern District of California, will use the grant to build and sustain multi-agency coordination and community engagement in order to reduce gun crime and gun violence. SANDAG will implement the following initiatives: 1) Aggressively investigate the illegal possession and sale of firearms through a minimum of six coordinated police operations, including sweeps, stings, and youth underground events, as well as surveillance; 2) Increase the number of gun crime cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office by 30 percent; 3) Mentor a minimum of 60 high-risk adjudicated youth who have been arrested for a firearm charge or have been identified as gang-involved; 4) Distribute a minimum of 500 youth program and services resource guides to local law enforcement to ensure existing prevention and intervention services are most effectively utilized; 5) Conduct a minimum of two regional one-day firearms training sessions focused on federal firearms laws, firearms identification, and hidden firearms; 6) Distribute a minimum of 1,500 PSN posters and 1,500 PSN book covers to area schools, recreation centers, and businesses; 7) Secure 20 billboards and 25 bus stop spaces for PSN ads in Central San Diego, North County, East County, and South Bay; 8) Create a local PSN web site with up-to-date information for key stakeholders, including the community, service providers, and law enforcement; 9) Produce a local Public Service Announcement (PSA) that depicts the effect of gun crime and violence on victims and their families and effectively communicates a prevention message across San Diego via a local television station; and 10) Provide safe passages for youth and community residents participating in local nighttime events such as high school football games, recreation centers with late night activities, and high school basketball games, in high gun crime areas during high gun crime time periods.

NCA/NCF