Northern District of Indiana FY 2011 Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime, links existing local programs together and provides them with necessary tools. PSN 1) takes a hard line against persons involved in gun and gang crime, 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 support law enforcement initiatives and prevention/community outreach programs. They will continue a strategy that places emphasis in four metropolitan areas to provide funding for training for local and state law enforcement and community outreach/public education programs regarding gun crime and gun violence. Their PSN 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 working with local criminal justice agencies who will work collectively to target specific criminal gang groups for case investigation and prosecution. Special attention will be given to working with Police School Resource Officers and their respective community schools in developing cooperative programs that target gang activity and anti-violence programs. Additionally, there will be active coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement in criminal gang investigations through periodic information exchange meetings and training activities. Specialized training will also be given to police agencies in evidence technician training so that crime evidence may be properly processed for later use in trials involving firearms violence and gang activity.

NCA/NCF