PSN Youth Opportunity Initiatve

As part of BJA’s Smart Suite, the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), represents a strategic approach that brings more “science” into criminal justice operations by leveraging innovative applications of analysis, technology, and evidence-based practices with the goal of improving performance and effectiveness while containing costs. 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 Justice Education Center, Inc., acting as the fiscal agent for the District of Connecticut, will reduce violent crime associated with gang and gun violence in the cities of Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. The PSN Youth Initiative will partner with community agencies and research institutions and provide support services, and advocacy for juvenile offenders. The goals of the project are to expand community outreach and education efforts to children and to reinforce and reward positive attitudes and behaviors and a personal commitment to the “no gangs, no guns” philosophy. The Charter Oak Group Inc. and the University of New Haven have been retained to act as research partners, and will provide a final assessment of the project.

CA/NCF