FY 2009 Project Safe Neighborhoods Indian Country Pilot Program

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 Tohono O'odham Nation will use grant funds to support a Project Safe Neighborhoods Indian Country Pilot Program within the Tohono O'odham Nation. The initiative will address violent crime rates, with an emphasis on gangs, guns, and juvenile crime, currently well above the national average. The Tohono O'odham Nation is the second largest Indian Reservation in the United States, comprising of 2,800,000 acres, which is roughly the size of the state of Connecticut. It is situated within Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa Counties and the Republic of Mexico. Because of its location, the Tohono O'odham Nation also has one of the highest rates of illegal entrance by aliens and is a drug smuggling corridor into the country. Through the grant, a comprehensive strategy that includes targeted enforcement through officer overtime, increased community policing and community education directed towards at-risk youth, as well as increased public awareness efforts of law enforcement action against gun violators will be supported. The strategies will ultimately target and remove violent criminals from the community and prevent future violent crime and gang activity from occurring.

NCA/NCF