The middle district of pennsylvania PSN task force proposes to use the 2023 PSN allocation to fund an expansion of the violent crime reduction program (VCRP)

This $145,156 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) formula grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance will support the Middle District of Pennsylvania's efforts to expand its Violent Crime Reduction Program (VCRP) over a 3-year period from October 2023 through September 2026. The grant funding will be used primarily to support a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) position based in the York County District Attorney's Office. The SAUSA will participate in local crime meetings, refer cases for federal prosecution, and handle the prosecution of these cases in federal court. Additional grant funds will support a research partner in York City to investigate the drivers of criminal activity and implement data-driven strategies to reduce violent crime in targeted areas. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance public safety and reduce recidivism through targeted law enforcement, data analysis, and federal prosecution of violent offenders across the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

There is a sound infrastructure of VCRP already in place in the district involving partnership through regular crime meetings and case adoptions, an active federal TFO program and initiatives such as york group violence intervention (GVI) and mdpa court assisted reentry (CARE) court. The VCRP expansion will be concentrated on targeted law enforcement as a crime reduction vehicle. The bulk of the funding will be dedicated to supporting a special assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) who currently works for the york county district attorneys office. The SAUSA will attend the crime meetings, refer local cases for federal prosecution, and handle the prosecution in federal court. Additional funding will be dedicated to supporting a research partner in york city to investigate the causes of criminal activity in york city, identify criminals, and implement data-driven strategies to reduce violent activity by identified individuals in targeted areas.