Project Safe Neighborhoods

 

The Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) formula grant program awards funds to certified fiscal agents who work with PSN teams in federal judicial districts to provide funding support to the districts PSN strategy. Each United States Attorneys Office is responsible for establishing and leading a team of federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial (where applicable) law enforcement and community-based organizations and representatives (herein PSN Team) to implement a strategic plan for addressing the most pressing violent crime problems within the USAO district. Goal(s): To reduce gun and gang violence by the most violent offenders in target neighborhoods by employing a research-driven, intelligence-led, and problem-solving approach to reduce firearm and gang violence through enforcement, deterrence, and prevention. Objective(s): Foster effective and sustainable collaborations with law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and external agencies; foster community trust in, and increase the legitimacy of, federal, state, and local law enforcement entities; and, use intelligence and data to identify violent crime drivers and individuals at risk of violence victimization or perpetration. Performance Measure 1: Percentage of PSN projects conducting community activities on a monthly (or more frequent) basis; and, Performance Measure 2: Percentage of PSN projects that experienced a measurable positive impact on their problem of focus.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
16.609
Federal Agency/Office
Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 Made awards to 16 news sites. Each awardee completed a Strategic Action Plan to guide planning and implementation.
Fiscal Year 2017 Fiscal Year 2017: Made competitive awards to 14 sites. In FY 18, 93 formula awards are planned.
Fiscal Year 2018 Fiscal Year 2018: Made formula awards to 83 sites. In FY 2018, the Justice Department prosecuted more violent crime defendants than ever before, exceeding the previous total by almost 15 percent. DOJ also charged more than 15,000 defendants with federal firearms offenses, 17 percent more than the previous record. Based on reliable data, productivity in these areas increased more in 2018 than ever before.
Fiscal Year 2020 For detailed accomplishments, visit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn/publications-performance-reports
Fiscal Year 2021 In Fiscal Year 2021, BJA awarded 17.5 Million in PSN funding to 88 federal judicial districts. In FY 2022, BJA is anticipating the award of up to $20 Million to 94 federal judicial districts
Fiscal Year 2022 Please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn/publications-performance-reports
Authorization
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, Statute 134,1182, 1258
Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
PSN team fiscal agents for the federal judicial districts All fiscal agents must be certified by the relevant district United States Attorney's Office (USAO). Eligible USAO-certified fiscal agents include states, units of local government, educational institutions, faith-based and other community organizations, private nonprofit organizations (including tribal nonprofit), and federally recognized Indian tribal governments (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).
Beneficiary Eligibility
State and local governments, public and private organizations, Indian Tribal government, prosecutor offices.
Credentials/Documentation
Eligible applicants must be certified by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. An applicant may find the names and addresses of State Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) at the following website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The application procedure and time lines will be contained in the program solicitation. See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site (http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm) and/or https://www.bja.gov/funding.aspx.
Award Procedure
BJA reviews applications for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements. Upon approval by the Office of Justice Programs Assistant Attorney General, successful applicants are notified via DOJ's Justice Grants System (JustGrants). The grant award must be accepted electronically by the receiving organizations authorized official in JustGrants.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Contingent on available funding.
How are proposals selected?
Formula Award Program: Each federal judicial district is eligible to apply for a funding allocation, based on its violent crime rate and population. See the current fiscal year's solicitation available at the Office of Justice Programs web site (http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm) and/or https://www.bja.gov/funding.aspx.
How may assistance be used?
The Project Safe Neighborhoods program focuses on problem solving, strategic planning, and working in partnership with the community to reduce gun crime and gang violence. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a national strategy designed to reduce offenses committed with guns in streets and local neighborhoods. In addition to hiring new state and local prosecutors, the funds will be available to support investigations, provide training, develop and promote community outreach efforts, and improve public safety by supporting gun and gang crime reduction strategies. PSN should be a part of an overall comprehensive violence reduction strategy. Applicants are encouraged to leverage other federal grant dollars and existing grant resources already in the community, and to partner with a research partner to conduct an impact evaluation to determine the results of the PSN program which may help in securing longer-term funding and sustaining the program locally.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: To assist in fulfilling the Departments responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, recipients must provide data that measures the results of their work.
Auditing
Payments and transactions are subject to audits by the Government Accountability Office, Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, State or local government auditors, and auditors from independent public accounting firms. Jurisdictions must follow their local policies and procedures, including maintenance of reliable and accurate accounting systems, record keeping, and systems of internal control.
Records
In accordance with the requirement set forth in 2 CFR 200, Subpart F, grantees must maintain all financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the award for at least 3 years following the close of the most recent audit.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Varies. Up to 36 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/release: Office of Justice Programs’ Financial Guide (http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm) and Post Award Instructions (http://ojp.gov/funding/Implement/Resources/PostAwardInstructions.pdf).
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Kate McNamee
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20735 US
Catherine.mcnamee@usdoj.gov
Phone: 202-598-5248
Website Address
https://bja.ojp.gov/program/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn/overview
Financial Information
Account Identification
15-0404-0-1-754
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$36,520,717.00; FY 23 est $20,000,000.00; FY 24 est $40,000,000.00; FY 21$19,280,997.00; FY 20$17,894,628.00; FY 19$23,943,456.00; FY 18$33,230,672.00; FY 17$5,871,591.00; FY 16$5,727,463.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Prior awards have ranged from approximately $200,000 to $500,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Solicitation guidelines are posted on the Office of Justice Programs web site at http://www.ojp.gov/funding/solicitations.htm. For additional guidance reference the Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide (http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm) and Post award Instructions (http://ojp.gov/funding/Implement/Resources/PostAwardInstructions.pdf). Applicable administrative requirements and Department of Justice regulations applicable to specific types of grantees can be found in title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 C.F.R.).
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2018 One district devoted its PSN funds to a localized and strategic intervention of violent crime by using a place-based plan in five target enforcement areas (TEAs). This intervention will aim to prosecute repeat violent offenders (VROs). A steering committee provides overall guidance and direction while task forces are formed at the local target areas. The USAO is implementing a comprehensive prevention strategy to complement the coordinated enforcement efforts in TEAs and VRO sites, including debriefing of juveniles to identify adults who are driving their violent criminal activity. The Department of Corrections, Department of Community Supervision, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. Probation Office will intervene with high risk adult offenders who are in state or federal custody.
Fiscal Year 2019 FY 19 awards provided funding, resources, and training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and their PSN teams to combat violent crime and make their communities safer through a comprehensive approach to public safety that marries targeted law enforcement efforts with community engagement, prevention, and reentry efforts. A portion of awarded PSN funding must be used to support the violence reduction activities of gang task forces.
Fiscal Year 2020 BJA expects to make 93 awards under the FY20 solicitation in the form of grants to United States Attorneys Offices (USAO). Through the PSN team (referred to as the “PSN team”), each USAO district will implement the five design features of PSN—leadership, partnership, targeted and prioritized enforcement, prevention, and accountability—to address violent crime in their respective districts.
Fiscal Year 2021 • The PSN team in the District of Colorado has included a focus on Denver and a partnership involving the USAO, ATF, Denver Police Department, and the Crime Gun Intelligence Center. This has resulted in data driven and highly focused initiative based on the integration of crime data, National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) technology and products, and street-level intelligence. The research partner found a near 24% reduction of violent crimes with a gun and a 38% reduction of robberies with a firearm. • The Detroit PSN (MI-Eastern) team utilized a comprehensive strategy that includes highly focused enforcement, a Ceasefire focused deterrence strategy, place-based interventions (Project Greenlight), a Crime Gun Intelligence Center, and coordinated federal-state prosecution. The research partner team reported declines in fatal and nonfatal shootings at the community level as well as a 47% reduction in re-offending for a violent offense. • The Oakland PSN team (CA-Northern) followed a problem-solving approach to address violent gun crime. This includes regular and systematic review of shooting incidents that informs a focused deterrence strategy. The strategy sought to reduce and prevent gang and group violence while at the same time building strong community collaboration and engagement. The research partner team found significant reductions in fatal and nonfatal shootings in both the target areas as well as the gangs that were part of the focused deterrence strategy. • The Omaha PSN team (NE) benefits from a collaboration between the United States Attorney’s Office and the Omaha Police Department, as well as an active research partnership with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. This has resulted in the development of a strong re-entry program as well as effective youth violence prevention and community engagement initiatives. Nebraska was the only District to successfully receive competitive funds five of the six years. • The middle district of Florida’s PSN team utilized a data-driven and highly focused strategy in Tampa. Specifically, the PSN team developed an objective risk-assessment scoring system to identify prolific offenders who became the focus of the PSN intervention. The research partner reported a 24.4% raw reduction in violence and a 24% reduction in gun crime rates.
Fiscal Year 2022 Please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn/publications-performance-reports

 



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