The united states attorneys office for the eastern district of louisiana (usao) encompasses thirteen parishes

The United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (USAO) was awarded a $133,742 Formula Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods (CFDA 16.609) program. The funding will support the USAO's comprehensive strategy to combat the rise in violent crimes, such as carjackings, theft, robbery, and shootings, across 13 parishes in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The grant enables the USAO to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, FBI, and ATF, to identify and target perpetrators of semi-organized group violence. Additionally, the funding will facilitate increased community engagement and collaboration between law enforcement and community organizations to help restore a sense of safety and trust among residents. The goal is to leverage these multi-agency and community-focused efforts to lower violent crime rates in the region.

In recent years these communities have been threatened by waves of violence that leave residents fearful and looking towards law enforcement and each other for support and safety. Communities across the 13 parishes are particularly vulnerable to crime because of changes in when and where violent acts are occurring. Whereas crimes such as car jackings, theft, robbery, and shootings wereseen as occurring at night and often in high crime-urban neighborhoods, these crimes are now occurring in populated and frequently visited areas during daylight hours. With fiscal year 2024PROJECT safe neighborhoods (PSN) funding, the eastern district of louisiana plans to focus its efforts on focused strategic enforcement and community engagement. To combat the expansion of crimes within thecommunity, the usao has partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, such as, the drug enforcement administration, the federal bureau of investigation, the united states marshal's service, the orleans parish district attorney's office, the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, new orleans police department, louisiana state patrol, and local sheriff offices. The goal is to work with local partners to identify perpetrators of semi-organized group violence and to work with community organizations to help restore a sense of safety and trust among residents. The PSN partnership is confident that with more public engagement between community partnersand local law enforcement agencies that trust will be forthcoming and will result in the practices thatwill lower violent crime ratesin the thirteen parishes.