Forging public safety partnerships through community-based training, the Florida RCPI is a joint effort between law enforcement, educational institutions and the community.

Project Safe Neighborhoods ...

The Florida RCPI is the recipient of a Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Media Outreach and Community Engagement grant through the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and is being overseen by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida (MDFL). As such, RCPI has been working with the U.S. Attorney for the MDFL and his PSN team to provide information to law enforcement and communities within the MDFL on ways to successfully reduce gun violence in their neighborhoods. RCPI has also contracted with a media specialist who has customized PSN public service announcements and has distributed them throughout the Middle District of Florida. You may see one on television. Most are geared toward the criminals as part of the 10/20 Life program.

For an overview of Project Safe Neighborhoods, please read the following. If you are interested having the Florida RCPI provide or present information at a community event, please call Barb Kieta @ (727)341-4432 (agencies South of I-4) or Laura Heisler @ (727)341-4437 (agencies North of I-4).

A National Network to Reduce Gun Crime

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing those programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. The Bush Administration will seek to commit $533 million to this effort over two years, including $233.6 million already available for this year. This funding will be used to hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, and develop and promote community outreach efforts.

The effectiveness of Project Safe Neighborhoods is based on the ability of federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified offensive that is led by the newly appointed United States Attorney in every one of the 94 federal judicial districts across America. Through unprecedented partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement, each United States Attorney will implement the five core elements of Project Safe Neighborhoods in a manner that is contoured to fit the specific gun crime problems in that district. The goal is to create safer neighborhoods by reducing gun violence and sustaining the reduction.

Individual cities and states have begun to respond effectively to this epidemic of gun violence. Model firearms programs such as Project Exile in Richmond, VA, and Operation Ceasefire in Boston, MA, have achieved success in many large cities throughout the country. While much success has been achieved by programs such as Exile and Ceasefire in select cities, the problem of gun violence remains unacceptably high for much of the nation. A national strategy is needed to ensure that every community is attacking gun violence with focus and intensity.

This initiative establishes a national program for reducing gun violence in America. Every newly appointed United States Attorney will be directed to certify to the Attorney General that a comprehensive gun violence program has been implemented in the United States Attorney's district. Each program consists of five core elements:

Five Elements of PSN

1. Partnerships Local Gun Crime Task Forces that will include:

• United States Attorneys
• District Attorneys
• Special Agents in Charge (ATF, FBI)
• Chiefs of Police
• Other community and law enforcement leaders working together
• Develop district or statewide strategies to reduce gun violence
• Prepare gun cases for prosecution in most appropriate jurisdictions
• Seek the most punitive forum practicable to prosecute firearms violations