The united states attorney (usao) of the western district of north carolina (wdnc) serves more than three million people living in 32 counties

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $181,002 under the Project Safe Neighborhoods formula grant program (CFDA 16.609) to the North Carolina Gang Investigators Association for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2024. The funding will support the implementation of a Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy across targeted areas in North Carolina's Western District experiencing increases in gun and gang violence. Key elements of the strategy include targeted law enforcement efforts, comprehensive gun tracing, prevention programs delivered through community partners and schools, and data-driven decision making aided by a research partner at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The strategy aims to reduce gun and gang violence through vigorous enforcement combined with prevention and community outreach initiatives.

Charlotte is the largest city in north carolina, ranks as the 17TH larges metropolitan area in the nation and ranks 10TH in population growth among cities in the country. Charlotte is plagued with violent crimes at statistically higher rates than the national average, and violent crime rates within the wdnc are trending upward at greater rats than the national average. Charlotte is experiencing a rise in gun and gang violence interstate 77 and 85 pass through charlotte, which makes the area a hub for dugs and weapons traffickers. The rural areas of wdnc are also sing a rise in gang and gun violence with steady increases in breaking and entering cases, robberies ad assaults. Shelby, statesville and asheville are all experiencing rises in gun and gang violence. Accordingly, the PSN methodology will be applied throughout the district to reduce the gun and gang violence. The usao wdnc will implement IT PSN strategy across the targeted areas. The PSN strategy encompasses a vigorous enforcement strategy that includes by is not limited to targeted enforcement, case review, and criminal incident reviews with law enforcement, and comprehensive gun tracing; a prevention strategy that is support by clergy, community partners, the local school system, and the city of charlotte and mecklenburg county services. The prevention strategy will include education programs, mentoring programs, and offender notifications. Media and outreach initiative will be approved for messaging. The district has developed an outreach, prevention, and reentry component to the PSN program that draws on a broad array of strategies, including adult reentry programs, offender notification meetings, clergy outreach, monthly community meetings and community outreach programs, education programs, juvenile outreach, mentoring programs, school-based outreach, and PSN public service announcements in local media. The charlotte-mecklenburg police department, the statesville police department and the asheville police department both have robust data collection capacity. Data driven decision making is a vital tool in measuring progress and making adjustments if necessary. In addition, the wdnc will utilize a PSN reseach partner at the university of north carolina-greensboro (uncg). Uncg is proficient in data analysis and serves as an expert in focused deterrence and gang/group organizations.