The Senate unanimously passed legislation backed by Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to reauthorize a nationwide law enforcement program aimed at reducing violent crime.  The bipartisan Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), and includes a provision named in honor of fallen Iowa State Patrol sergeant Jim Smith.
 
“For the past two decades, Project Safe Neighborhoods has successfully enabled law enforcement officers to fight crime through local, state and federal collaboration,” said Sen. Grassley. “Reauthorizing this critical grant program will ensure communities receive the resources needed to reduce dangerous crime in our communities. The bill includes a provision I championed, named in honor of Jim Smith, a fallen Iowa State Patrol sergeant, to support multijurisdictional task forces to help law enforcement better serve our communities. These resources are especially important as we face a national violent crime wave, so I’m grateful for the Senate’s unanimous support for this program today.”
 
“As violent crime continues to impact neighborhoods across the country, the need to empower law enforcement to address these threats is urgent,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This grant program is proven to reduce violent crime by focusing law enforcement efforts on organized crime networks and repeat offenders, and I urge the House to send it to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”
 
The bill includes a provision named after Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith, who was killed in the line of duty in 2021. The provision expands access to existing grant funding to multijurisdictional task forces, which will help law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle violent crimes that cross multiple jurisdictions.
 
Along with Cornyn and Grassley, the bill is also cosponsored by Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and supported by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
 
Background:
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors that uses evidence-based and data-driven approaches to reduce violent crime. Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, multiple law enforcement agencies cooperate and focus their enforcement efforts on organized criminal networks and repeat offenders that are driving the crime rates in a particular region. Project Safe Neighborhoods also works to build trust and partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve through coordinated outreach, public awareness, innovative tactics, and collaborative interventions. Since its inception in 2001, Project Safe Neighborhoods has been successfully deployed by both Democratic and Republican administrations to reduce violent crime in large cities and smaller communities across the country. According to a Michigan State University study funded by the Department of Justice in 2013, Project Safe Neighborhoods was associated with a 13.1% decrease in violent crime in cities with a high rate of program participation—including double-digit reductions in total firearms crime and homicides in every city examined by the study. The 2018 authorization of the program passed the Senate unanimously.
 
Specifically, the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2022:
  • Authorizes the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program for Fiscal Years 2023-2026 at $50 million—consistent with current appropriations levels.
  • Requires participating entities to create and implement strategic plans to reduce violent crimes by focusing on criminal organizations and individuals responsible for increasing violence in a particular jurisdiction.
  • Prioritizes the investigation and prosecution of individuals who have an aggravating or leadership role in a criminal organization.
  • Strengthens evidence-based and data-driven intervention and prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice projects, street-level outreach, conflict mediation, the provision of treatment and social services, and improving community anti-violence norms.
  • Reserves 30% of funding for established regional law enforcement task forces
  • Allows funds to be used for the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program, evidence base programs to reduce gun crime and gang violence, community-based violence prevention initiatives, and violence education, prevention, and intervention programs.
 
The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2022 is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Major County Sheriffs of America, National District Attorneys Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition.
 

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