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Press Release

Newark One Of Five Cities Added To Justice Department’s Violence Reduction Network

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. – Newark was chosen one of five cities that will join the Department of Justice’s Violence Reduction Network (VRN), a comprehensive approach to reducing violent crime in communities around the country, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Newark was added to the program along with Little Rock, Arkansas; West Memphis, Arkansas; Compton, California; and Flint, Michigan. They join the inaugural sites of Detroit; Chicago; Camden, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; and Oakland and Richmond, California.

“The selection of Newark as a VRN city will enable us to build on the success we’ve already achieved in Camden over the past year,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said, “and I'm pleased that my colleagues in Washington appreciate the strength of our federal, state, county, and local partnerships. This program ensures that federal resources are carefully targeted to the areas where they will provide the greatest benefit, allowing us to work with our local partners in ensuring we continue to create safe, thriving communities for all our citizens.”

Today’s announcement was made by Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates and Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) before an audience of U.S. Attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs, mayors, local leaders from the 10 sites and Department of Justice representatives at the second annual VRN Summit in Detroit, Michigan.

Through the VRN, the Justice Department enlists tactical and operational expertise available from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Executive Office of the United States Attorneys, the Community Oriented Policing Services Office and the Office on Violence Against Women.

Deputy Attorney General Yates cited the progress reported by the current VRN sites in their first year. In Camden, for example, the FBI assisted the local police display wanted felons’ information on digital billboards, resulting in the arrest of two felons The ATF helped the Camden County Police Department acquire National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) equipment and training. NIBIN has allowed the county to initiate eTrace, an Internet-based firearms tracing and analysis tracking process to enhance criminal investigations.

In addition to announcing the five new VRN sites, Deputy Attorney General Yates announced Smart Policing grant awards totaling more than $2 million to law enforcement agencies to develop innovative, data-driven approaches to crime.

For more VRN information visit: www.bja.gov/Programs/VRN.html

Updated September 28, 2015

Press Release Number: 15-355