News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2003

Boston Gun Violence Reduction Program Recognized As National Model

Pictured above,left to right, are DEA Group Supervisor Harry Brady , United States Attorney Michael Sullivan, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville shown holding the”Outstanding Comprehensive Strategic Plan award”. This award recognizes the efforts of the collaborative program to reduce firearm and drug related violence. Boston’s program was recognized as a national model for violence reduction and has been replicated in cities across the country.

Boston, MA…A ceremony was held today honoring federal, state and local partners in the Boston Gun Violence Reduction Program. Boston's collaborative program to reduce firearm related violence was selected from among the 93 federal districts nationwide to receive the "Outstanding Comprehensive Strategic Plan Award" at the Justice Department's Project Safe Neighborhoods national conference held in Philadelphia last month.

Boston's program was recognized as a national model for violence reduction at the conference which was attended by more than 1,300 prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and community leaders from all over the country. Boston's model, now replicated in cities across the country, pioneered a data driven multi-agency approach to reducing firearm violence through coordinated law enforcement and the strategic use of intervention and prevention programs. The Conference was designed to assist other cities throughout the United States in coordinating local strategies to prevent gun violence and take criminals who use guns off our nation's streets.

The Key components of Boston's strategic plan are:

Boston Police Department

* District-based Crime Reduction Strategy
* Unsolved Shooting Project
* Gang Investigations
* Operation Home Front

Suffolk County District Attorney's Office

* Rapid Indictment Prosecutors
* Rapid Gun Indictment Program
* Safe Neighborhood Initiative

Suffolk County Sheriff's Department

* Boston Re-Entry Initiative

Massachusetts Attorney General's Office

* Safe Neighborhood Initiative

Massachusetts State Police

* Youth Violence Strike Force

Department of Youth Services

* Juvenile Re-Entry Initiative

Probation

* Heightened supervision of high risk individuals

Parole

* Coordination between Parole and Police

United States Attorney's Office

* Community Prosecution Unit
* Federal prosecution of individuals and groups responsible for gun violence
* Federal prosecution of violent drug gangs

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

* Focus on Violent Gangs and Firearms Trafficking

Faith Based Organizations

* Faith Based & Community Based Organizations