Source: United States Department of Justice News
GREENSBORO, NC – United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $177,090 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Middle District of North Carolina. Funding will support comprehensive efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to be administered by the NC Department of Public Safety Governor’s Crime Commission for the benefit of the district’s 12 PSN sites, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime in a comprehensive manner, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a cornerstone of the crime prevention effort in the Middle District of North Carolina, and we are thrilled to receive this grant in support of such an important strategy,” said U. S. Attorney Sandra Hairston. “The grant will support 12 PSN sites around the district as they continue to grow and assist law enforcement and community groups in their efforts to reduce crime and protect not only the citizens of the Middle District, but those in neighboring districts as well.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN partnerships are convened by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. PSN places emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability. The PSN model has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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