Project Safe Neighborhoods: Strategic Interventions-Middle District of Alabama (Case Study 5)

• NCJ Number: 240869
• Date Published: February 2007
• Length: 35 pages
• Agencies: BJA
• Award: PSN Academy: Proposal to Provide Technical Assistance

Annotation

This report presents a case study on specific strategic interventions that have been implemented through Project Safe Neighborhood in the Middle District of Alabama.

Abstract

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is an initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat gun crime. PSN consists of a network of local partnerships coordinated through the Nation's 94 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and supported by a strategy that provides them with the resources they need to be successful in reducing gun crime. The PSN initiative integrates five essential elements from successful gun crime reduction programs: partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach, and accountability. This report presents an overview of the PSN initiative and focuses specific discussion on strategic interventions that have been implemented through the PSN initiative in the Middle District of Alabama. The initial focus of PSN in this district was to develop a simultaneous strategy to build constructive relationships between local enforcement agencies and county prosecutors. Detailed information is presented on the development and initial implementation of PSN, the structure of PSN in the Middle District, the nature of the gun crime problem in the Middle District, gun crime reduction strategies implemented in the Middle District, and results of the strategy. Analysis of the results shows that the strategies implement in the Middle District have resulted in a decrease in gun assaults and homicide but they have had no impact on armed robbery and property crime rates. An additional positive impact of PSN has been improved coordination and communication among Federal, State, and local law enforcement. Figures, references, endnotes, and appendix