Press Release
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Announces Reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Other Actions to Reduce Rising Tide of Violent Crime
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maine
Portland, Maine: Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
In announcing this recommitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Attorney General issued a memo directing United States Attorneys to implement an enhanced violent crime reduction program that incorporates the lessons learned since Project Safe Neighborhoods launched in 2001.
In a statement on the program, the Attorney General said:
“According to the FBI, the violent crime rate has risen by nearly seven percent over the past two years, and the homicide rate has risen by more than 20 percent. We cannot be complacent or hope that this is just an anomaly: we have a duty to take action.
“Fortunately, we have a President who understands that and has directed his administration to reduce crime. The Department of Justice today announces the foundation of our plan to reduce crime: prioritizing Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been proven to work.
“Let me be clear – Project Safe Neighborhoods is not just one policy idea among many. This is the centerpiece of our crime reduction strategy.
“Taking what we have learned since the program began in 2001, we have updated it and enhanced it, emphasizing the role of our U.S. Attorneys, the promise of new technologies, and above all, partnership with local communities. With these changes, I believe that this program will be more effective than ever and help us fulfill our mission to make America safer."
Acting Maine U.S. Attorney Richard W. Murphy said:
“Since 2001, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine has led the PSN Maine task force, which includes representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, domestic violence coalitions, sportsmanship alliances, state agencies, and educational and business leaders. Representatives include: the Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland Police Departments; the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence; the Violence Intervention Partnership; the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine; Maine’s Attorney General's Office, Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety and Warden Service; Maine Chiefs of Police Association; Maine Council of Churches; Maine Domestic Violence Investigators; Maine Gun Safety Coalition; Maine Merchants Association; Maine Prosecutors Association; Maine Sheriffs' Association; Volunteers of America - Northern New England; CD&M Communications; Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service; and L.L. Bean.”
“PSN Maine has promoted an aggressive enforcement strategy, particularly in the area of domestic violence, with an extensive community outreach campaign aimed at educating Maine citizens about federal gun laws. The goal of PSN Maine is to hold those who violate gun laws accountable and prevent future gun crime, in part, by informing the public of the consequences of violating these federal laws. Over the years, PSN Maine has seen success through initiatives such as Operation Hot Spot (community policing aimed at reducing gun violence in the City of Lewiston), the Gun Seller Awareness Campaign (a grass roots media campaign focused on educating responsible Maine gun owners about private sales) and the Domestic Violence Bystander Awareness Campaign (a local media campaign focused on raising awareness within the community).”
“The strength of PSN Maine continues to be the involvement of dedicated and informed stakeholders throughout the State. I know my office looks forward to continuing the good work of PSN Maine in seeking ways to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.”
The Attorney General also announced the following Department of Justice initiatives to help reduce violent crime:
Additional Assistant United States Attorney Positions to Focus on Violent Crime – The Department is allocating 40 prosecutors to approximately 20 United States Attorney’s Offices to focus on violent crime reduction.
More Cops on the Streets (COPS Hiring Grants) – As part of our continuing commitment to crime prevention efforts, increased community policing, and the preservation of vital law enforcement jobs, the Department will be awarding approximately $98 million in FY 2017 COPS Hiring Grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) National Gang Strategic Initiative –The National Gang Strategic Initiative promotes creative enforcement strategies and best practices that will assist in developing investigations of violent criminal groups and gangs into enterprise-level OCDETF prosecutions. Under this initiative, OCDETF provides “seed money” to locally-focused gang investigations, giving state, local, and tribal investigators and prosecutors the resources and tools needed to identify connections between lower-level gangs and national-level drug trafficking organizations.
Critical Training and Technical Assistance to State and Local Partners –The Department has a vast array of training and technical assistance resources available to state, local and tribal law enforcement, victims groups, and others. To ensure that agencies in need of assistance are able to find the training and materials they need, OJP will make available a Violence Reduction Response Center to serve as a “hot line” to connect people to these resources.
Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGIC) – The Department has provided grant funding to support a comprehensive approach to identifying the most violent offenders in a jurisdiction, using new technologies such as gunshot detection systems combined with gun crime intelligence from NIBIN, eTrace, and investigative efforts. These FY 2017 grants were awarded to Phoenix, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program – The Department will expand ATF’s NIBIN Urgent Trace Program nationwide by the end of the year. Through this program, any firearm submitted for tracing that is associated with a NIBIN “hit” (which means it can be linked to a shooting incident) will be designated an “urgent” trace and the requestor will get information back about the firearm’s first retail purchaser within 24 hours, instead of 5 to 6 business days.
Contact
Darcie N. McElwee
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257
Updated October 5, 2017
Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Component