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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