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Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

In 2001, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to reduce gun violence nationwide.

In 2006, DOJ expanded the initiative to include an anti-gang component and provided Districts with resources to combat gang crimes within the framework of PSN.

Each U.S. Attorney’s Office across the United States is responsible for creating an anti-gun/anti-gang strategy that uses five key PSN elements: partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach and accountability.

The Northern District of Alabama has established an extensive network of law enforcement and community partners who have been fundamentally important to its strategy's success. Under PSN, the U.S. Attorney’s Office provides training and technical assistance to local law enforcement partners.

The U.S. Attorney’s PSN program in the Northern District of Alabama is also involved in the adult prisoner reentry programs at several county probation offices, as well as in federal prisons and through a federal reentry court. PSN seeks to ensure that prohibited persons do not come into possession of a firearm. For more information, view The Reentry Guide to Federal Firearm Restrictions .

The distribution of grant funds to target cities across the Northern District of Alabama has enabled communities and organizations to implement programming focused on education, employment, and law enforcement/community supervision.

In the Northern District of Alabama, PSN projects have included:

- Developing and sustaining community-law enforcement partnerships in targeted communities across the district by maximizing federal resources

- Collaborating with state and local law enforcement and prosecution on gun and gang investigations and enforcement actions

- Providing training for law enforcement personnel and community members on topics such as advancements in technology, proper investigation tactics, how to empower neighborhoods for gang prevention, updates on innovative community programs and partnerships, and officer safety training

- Reducing recidivism through improved reentry services offered by federal and state probation offices

- Improving tools and data that measure the performance of projects funded with PSN and other federal grant funds

If you have any questions about Project Safe Neighborhoods in the Northern District of Alabama, please contact Brad Felton – PSN Coordinator – 205.244.2001.

Updated February 17, 2022