Common Components of Successful PSN Strategies

• NCJ Number: 252374
• Date Published: November 2018
• Length: 3 pages
• Agencies: BJA-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Instructional Material

Annotation

This instructional material contains general guidelines that a U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) should consider implementing when developing firearms and anti-violence strategies that have proven effective over the lifespan of the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which prioritizes resources for preventing and countering gun-related and gang-related violence.

Abstract

The report emphasizes that these are general guidelines for USAOs, which should design anti-violence strategies best suited to the nature and prevalence of violent crime in their particular jurisdiction. Still, considering these guidelines should be a part of developing a strategy that is comprehensive, methodical, and collaborative. The following five components are discussed as features of successful PSN strategies: 1) Convene a forum for intelligence sharing, threat assessment, and priority enforcement; 2) Establish a regular gun-case-review process with the local prosecutor's office; 3) When federal prosecution is appropriate, consider all the statutory tools for removing violent threats from the community; 4) Identify the appropriate data sources for informing the strategy, and reassess whether the strategy is working; and 5) Promote outreach, prevention, and reentry efforts.