Gun program is working, officials say
BY TIM ELFRINK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1636&u_sid=1129203Statistics released Monday show that a federally funded program to reduce gun violence in Omaha is working, officials said, though similar figures also show an increase in gang violence last year.
Felony gun assaults have dropped by 38 percent since March 2003, while federal prosecution for gun crime increased by 70 percent, officials said at a press conference Monday.
The program, Project Safe Neighborhoods, in February 2003 began distributing federal funding to create community initiatives, fund police operations and raise awareness of the consequences of gun crime.
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"Looking at our numbers this year, the stats are saying to us that we're starting to make inroads into combating gang violence," Jeanette said. Project Safe Neighborhoods is effective because it encourages state and federal courts to cooperate to find long sentences for gun-related crimes, Heavican said.
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In many cases, state courts do not have minimum sentences they must apply to cases involving illegal gun use, but federal courts do. By allowing a federal court to prosecute such a crime, a longer sentence can more consistently be applied.
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From:
http://www.psn.gov/About.asp?section=34FAQs
Q: What is Project Safe Neighborhoods?
A: Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nation-wide commitment to reduce gun violence by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing those programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. The goal is to take a hard line against gun criminals through every available means in an effort to make our streets and communities safer. Project Safe Neighborhoods seeks to achieve heightened coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement, with an emphasis on tactical intelligence gathering, more aggressive prosecutions, and enhanced accountability through performance measures. The offensive will be led by the newly appointed United States Attorney in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across America.
Q: How will Project Safe Neighborhoods be funded?
A: Project Safe Neighborhoods commits substantial resources -- $901 million over three years -- and state-of-the-art technology to address gun violence. This funding is being used to hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun violence reduction strategies.
Q: How will each United States Attorney be involved in Project Safe Neighborhoods?
A: Each local program has been contoured to fit the unique gun crime problem in that district -- it is not a “one size fits all” program applied uniformly all across America. Each United States Attorney has convened all law enforcement participants in his or her community, has identified the most pressing crime problems, and is attacking those problems through aggressive prosecution and the use of newly developed gun intelligence-gathering systems.
Q: What is the difference between Project Safe Neighborhoods and programs like Project Exile?
A: Project Safe Neighborhoods expands on existing programs such as Project Exile (Richmond, VA) and Operation Ceasefire (Boston). Project Exile in Richmond focused gun prosecutions in federal court under federal law. Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, criminals who use guns will be prosecuted under federal, state, or local laws -- depending on where those laws are the toughest. Project Exile in Virginia coordinated resources statewide, while Project Safe Neighborhoods establishes a nation-wide network of programs linked by aggressive cooperation and information sharing.
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