Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Progress in Making Communities Safer Through Project Safe Neighborhoods Program

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – One year ago today, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Throughout the past year, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”

“The goal of Project Safe Neighborhoods in Nevada is to decrease violent crime and therefore decrease victimization,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “Reducing violent offenders’ access and control of weapons, including illegal firearms and illegal ammunition, will lead to fewer opportunities for contributing citizens to become victims. The District of Nevada has always had a robust PSN program and strong partnerships with law enforcement. As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the revitalized program, we are grateful to not only our communities’ dedicated law enforcement men and women, but also to our community partners for their commitment to prevention and reentry. Safety is a priority in our schools, parks, and neighborhoods; PSN is a valuable resource to achieving that goal.”

Coming in January 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will host a Project Safe Neighborhoods Summit. The Summit will bring together law enforcement and community partners to discuss gang and youth violence prevention. Some of the topics will include: developing positive community relationships in neighborhoods, proven practices in gang prevention and intervention, social media as it relates to gang activity and recruitment, and discussions of potential approaches and solutions.

The Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, has awarded grant money to help the Nevada PSN program. The grant furthers the PSN task force goal of increased enforcement, prevention, and outreach efforts, targeting two specifically-designated high need areas in the Las Vegas Valley. The grant award, for over $400,000, was funded on Wednesday. The PSN task force will get to work in the near future to solicit requests for sub-awards to help accomplish the PSN mission.

Las Vegas has recently created its Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), operated and housed at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) who is a PSN partner. The CGIC, also funded by the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, is run in connection with ATF. The Crime Gun Intelligence Center is a multidisciplinary team designed to prevent violent crime by identifying perpetrators, linking criminal activities, and identifying sources of crime guns for immediate disruption, investigation, and prosecution. There are fewer than a dozen CGICs in the United States. Southern Nevada is fortunate to have such a powerful scientific facility as a resource. The CGIC is a critical addition to Nevada’s strengthened PSN team.

The PSN program and its associated partners have contributed to the 27% reduction in violent crime in Las Vegas, according to the LVMPD annual report. There have also been reductions in violent crime in the northern part of Nevada, specifically a 4% decrease in the number of assaults and about a 3% decrease in the number of robberies, according to the Reno Police Department annual report. Nationwide, the violent crime rate has been reduced by 1%.

There is still work to be done. Gratefully, this community has great partnerships and relationships. Working together, we can help current victims and prevent new ones.

To learn more about the Department of Justice’s PSN program, visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.

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