FY 2009 Project Safe Neighborhoods - Northern District of Indiana

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 Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, serving as the fiscal agent for the Northern District of Indiana, will use the grant to continue the current initiatives in the major metropolitan areas of the district. Grant funds will be used towards technology for crime analysis and mapping, training for local and state law enforcement, and community outreach and public education programs regarding gun crime and gun violence. These programs will include working with local officials on the Pledge Against Gun Violence program and providing needed resource information to communities throughout the Northern District of Indiana. This initiative will be coordinated with the District's Anti-Gang Initiative since criminal gang violence is often tied with the use of illegal firearms. An integral part of both efforts will be the development of local criminal justice working groups that will work collectively to target specific criminal gang groups for case investigation and prosecution.

NCA/NCF