Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent and deter gun violence. The U.S. Department of Justice has committed millions of dollars nationwide to this effort. This funding has been used to hire new federal, state and local prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun safety locks, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts. Recently, PSN efforts have been extended to combat gang violence.
In the District of Idaho, the PSN Task Force has engaged in strategic planning with federal, state, and local law enforcement; strengthened partnerships among law enforcement agencies to improve gang and gun violence investigations and prosecutions; engaged in public outreach; provided training to state and local law enforcement; and sought community involvement in the fight against gang and gun violence.
Strategic Planning
The U.S. Attorney’s PSN Task Force is constantly looking for better ways to curtail gang and gun violence in Idaho. It has developed case-screening mechanisms to help determine the best jurisdiction for prosecution of gun cases, and identified and focused resources on “hot spots” – specific geographic areas that have experienced an increase in gang and gun violence.
Partnerships
The U.S. Attorney is committed to working with state and local agencies to appropriately deploy law enforcement resources. AUSAs work with county prosecutors to select the appropriate jurisdiction for prosecution of gun cases. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also works hand-in-hand with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to bolster federal firearms investigations. This includes participating in the Metro Treasure Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, a co-located unit comprised of agents with the FBI and ATF, sheriff’s deputies, and police officers dedicated to reducing gang and gun violence in the Treasure Valley.
In 2006, the U.S. Attorney partnered with local leaders throughout the Treasure Valley to create a new specially-deputized prosecutor dedicated to prosecuting violent Treasure Valley gang members in federal court. This special prosecutor began working in February 2007 and has helped increase the number of violent Treasure Valley gang members prosecuted in federal court and sentenced to federal prisons out-of-state.
Public Outreach
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud of its efforts to get the PSN message to the public. Locally-produced radio and television spots carry the message across Idaho, while newspapers and radio stations broadcast news of the stiff sentences handed out to gun defendants.
Training and Community Involvement
Gang and gun crime touches every neighborhood in Idaho. In November 2006, the U.S. Attorney’s Office partnered with the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections and the Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission to sponsor the 2006 Treasure Valley Youth Summit. The Summit brought together key Treasure Valley leaders from law enforcement, corrections, government, community organizations, and faith-based groups to develop strategies to prevent youth from joining gangs and to help gang members leave the gang lifestyle. In August 2007, the U.S. Attorney’s Office teamed up with the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission to sponsor a second Treasure Valley Youth Summit. Our greatest asset in combating gang and gun violence is the citizens of Idaho. Every time illegal gang and gun activity is reported, the potential for violence in the community is reduced. If you have any information about illegal gang or gun activity, please contact you local police department or sheriff’s office.