Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

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 city of Baton Rouge, serving as the fiscal agent for the Middle District of Louisiana, will use the grant to support a comprehensive assessment of available crime and gang-crime statistics to assess problem areas and continue Operation Eiger, which targets gun and gang-related violence throughout the district. The following objectives will be completed: 1) identify and control the small group of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile and youth offenders who have committed multiple felony offenses and who have failed to respond to interventions; 2) reduce access to illegal guns and the incidence of juveniles and youths carrying illegal guns through participation in Project Exile; 3) increase judicial and prosecutorial awareness of suppression strategies and engage the judiciary and local prosecutors in developing ways to increase the efficiency of the system; 4) monitor areas with high concentrations of hurricane evacuees and respond quickly to signs of emerging gang activity; 5) collect and report information on family problems and issues as observed during Operation Eiger contacts for use by caseload managers and the courts in making service referrals and facilitating access to intervention services; and 6) enhance law enforcement and community communication strategies through family dialogue, grassroots forums, and community events.

NCA/NCF