Project Safe Neighborhood

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida (USAO/NDFL) and the Department of Justice are committed to protecting our communities from gun violence. The centerpiece of that commitment is the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is an evidence-based program launched in 2001 and proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN so that it is built on newly articulated core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results of our efforts.  And the Department expressly underscores that the fundamental goal of this work is to reduce violent crime in the places we call home, not to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions as if they were ends in themselves. The Project Safe Neighborhoods Program brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. United States Attorney’s Offices throughout the country work in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

As part of its PSN efforts, the United States Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work closely with State Attorney’s Offices and local law enforcement agencies across the Northern District of Florida to identify whether federal or state prosecution is more appropriate for gun crimes committed in the District. Federal law provides stiff mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat violent offenders and drug-traffickers who are caught possessing firearms.

Finally, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.

Any questions or suggestions regarding the USAO/NDFL’s PSN program can be directed to Assistant United States Attorney and PSN Coordinator James A. McCain in our Tallahassee (https://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/contact.html) office.

Noteworthy Links: https://www.justice.gov/psn

https://bja.ojp.gov/program/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn/overview