2009 New Mexico 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 New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS), serving as the fiscal agent for the District of New Mexico, will use the grant to support the existing gang and gun violence reduction strategies through sub-grant agreements with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD), and the University of New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center. This initiative will target gang and gun crime through increased prosecution, targeted patrols, and youth prevention. The APD and BCSO will implement the prevention-based Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program to 50 youth during the school year and summer, as well as to families during home visits. Also, both the APD and BCSO will provide technical assistance for Project Sentry. The APD and BCSO will also work with federal law enforcement partners to target violent crime activity through special initiatives and carry out several anti-gang law enforcement operations. The New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) ' University of New Mexico Institute for Social Research (ISR) will conduct research and evaluation for this program; clean, code, and analyze APD crime data for 2008; and update the Albuquerque crime trend data and crime maps. DPS will support the administrative needs of key individuals, agencies, and groups that comprise the PSN and Anti-Gang task forces and working groups.

NCA/NCF