Violent crime, often associated with gun and gang violence, continues to be an issue throughout the northern district of indiana

The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.609 - Project Safe Neighborhoods) awarded a $123,991 Formula Grant to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, a division of the State of Indiana, to enhance local law enforcement's ability to address violent crime, gun violence, and gang activity in the Northern District of Indiana. The grant funds will support increased personnel and equipment, specialized training in interdiction and combating violent crime, and community outreach initiatives to engage citizens in affected neighborhoods. At least 30% of the award will be allocated to address gang activity in the focus areas. The 3-year grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The northern district of indiana is divided into four core areas: fort wayne, our largest city; south bend; lafayette; and northwest indiana, which includes gary, hammond, and east chicago along with other municipalities.funding for these locations will enhance local law enforcement's ability to face its challenges by providing increased personnel and equipment, needed specialized training in the area of interdiction and combatting violent crime, switches and gang activity, and tools necessary for effective community outreach in order to engage the citizens of the affected neighborhoods. Project safe neighborhoods (PSN) funds will assist in addressing the gun violence problems as well as problems with gang activity in lake and tippecanoe counties, the city of south bend and if needed fort wayne. Across the district, there has been an increase in switches and auto sears being found on subjects. These devices convert semi-auto firearms to automatics and the devices by themselves are considered machine guns. At least 30% of the award will be allocated to address gang activity in the assigned focus areas. These funds would also assist in community support and outreach. In the described areas, gang activity is often intertwined with gun violence, drug trafficking, and high poverty rates.