Eastern District of Louisiana FY14 Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program is designed to create safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in crime associated with gang and gun violence. The program's effectiveness is based on the cooperation of local, state, and federal agencies engaged in a unified approach led by the U.S. Attorney (USA) in each district. The USA is responsible for establishing a collaborative PSN task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement and other community members to implement gang violence and gun crime enforcement, intervention and prevention initiatives within the district. Through the PSN task force, the USA will implement the five design features of PSN partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach, and accountability to address specific gun crime and gang violence problems in that district.

The New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, Inc., serving as the fiscal agent for the USA Eastern District of Louisiana, will reduce violent crime associated with gang and gun violence in the city of New Orleans. The FY14 PSN funds will strengthen the city's implementation of Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS). The strategy is based on the belief that violent crime can be prevented when the costs of committing the crime are perceived by the offender to outweigh the benefits. GVRS includes three major components: 1) Collaborate with respected members of affected communities to deliver a single message to violent groups: "stop the shooting;" 2) Organize and build the capacity of social service providers, clergy and probation and parole officers to provide support to those who no longer wish to engage in violent lifestyles; and 3) Coordinate federal, state and local law enforcement to specifically deter violent behavior and ensure consequences for those who continue to commit violence.

CA/NCF