Community Prosecution and Project Safe Neighborhoods (16.609)

Program

16.609 Community Prosecution and Project Safe Neighborhoods

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Justice
Office: Bureau Of Justice Assistance

Authorization

Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended, Title I; 42 U.S.C. 50 et seq.; Crime Control Act of 1990, Public Law 101-647; Appropriations Act of 2001, Public Law 106-553; Appropriations Act of 2002, Public Law 107-77. Appropriations Act of 2003, 2004, 2006.

Program Number

16.609

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment and a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing those programs with additional tools and/or resources needed to reduce gun violence.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The Community Prosecution program focuses on problem solving, strategic planning, and working in partnership with the community to prevent crime and violence and improve public safety. 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 other gun crime reduction strategies.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

A PSN Task Force has been established in each of the 94 U.S. Attorney Districts. Each task force selects a fiscal agent to apply for this program. Eligible fiscal agents include states, units of local government, educational institutions, faith-based and other community organizations, and private nonprofit organizations.

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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application forms (SF-424) as furnished by the Federal agency in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program. The application procedure and time lines will be contained in the program solicitation. Applications must be submitted on-line at the Office of Justice Programs, Grant Management System: https://grants.ojp.usdoj.gov/.

Award Procedure

BJA reviews applications for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements. Upon approval by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP, award letters and award documents are sent to grantee. One copy of grant award must be signed by duly authorized representative and returned to BJA.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

120 days after receipt of applications.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Contingent upon congressional funding.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Varies. 24 to 36 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: See program office for more information.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

In some cases, evaluation reports may be required. No cash reports are required. Progress reports are due semi-annually. Unless otherwise specified in the awards special conditions, financial reports are due quarterly. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. 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

Recipients of federal funds are expected to retain documentation supporting all program transactions for at least three years after the closure of audit reports related to such funding. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving records has been started before the expiration of the three year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all related issues, or until the end of the regular three year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: See web site for current program updates. Bureau of Justice Assistance: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/psn.html; Project Safe Neighborhoods: http://www.psn.gov/. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0401-0-1-754.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $3,166,800; FY 09 est $15,000,000; FY 10 est $15,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Prior awards have ranged from approximately $200,000 to $1,100,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide and Handbook 4500.2c, Policies and Procedure for the Administration of OJP Grants, are applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Jonathan Faley or James Chavis Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Email: AskBJA@usdoj.gov Phone: (202) 616-6500 or 1-866-859-2687

Web Site Address

Bureau of Justice Assistance: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/psn.html. Project Safe Neighborhoods: http://www.psn.gov/.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Project Summaries: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/04PSNsummary.pdf. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

For competitive grants, criteria for selecting proposals is contained within the individual program solicitations. For non-competitive grants, applications received by BJA are reviewed for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements.