Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing those programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. The Bush Administration has committed $901 million to this effort over three years. This funding is being used to hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun violence reduction strategies.
United States Attorney Bud Cummins has placed a high priority on making PSN work in the Eastern District of Arkansas. In partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATF), under the leadership of Jeff Brzozowski, and local elected prosecutor for Jefferson and Lincoln Counties, Steven Dalrymple, PSN was launched in May, 2002. Since that time, a formal relationship has also been established with local law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor's office in Pulaski County. Active federal/state team review and coordinated prosecution of gun crimes in both of those local jurisdictions has noticeably increased. Every elected prosecutor and local law enforcement agency in the Eastern District of Arkansas has been invited to participate in this initiative, and cases have been referred to the U.S. Attorney's office from many Arkansas counties.
Increased prosecution means an average federal prison sentence just for felons in possession of a firearm of 56 months. In Arkansas, gun crime equals fed time, no parole. Not only does PSN mean increased prosecution in the EDAR, it also means education and communication. Every 4th-6th grader in Jefferson County, and many of the same group in Pulaski County are seeing creative firearm awareness presentations from officers and even magicians. Pulaski County jail inmates are being educated about the pitfalls of carrying a firearm through the use of a video featuring the USA, ATF and local prosecutor. And, communication through television and billboards gets the message out to the public. Prosecution, education and communication all play roles in the aggressive implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods in the Eastern District of Arkansas.
SHOT Program
Arkansas Students Get a SHOT at Reducing Crime (9/15/2005)
Jefferson County law enforcement, in collaboration with the Jefferson County school system, will be introducing a new program to area third- and fourth-graders over the coming weeks. The SHOT program [See it, Hear it, Tell it] hopes to educate youth on the dangers of criminal activity, and encourages students to report any suspicious or criminal activity they witness. The SHOT program is a proponent of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
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