The united states attorney's office for the district of north dakota (usaond) is working with the north dakota office of attorney general (ndoag) on the project safe neighborhoods (PSN) program in…

The united states attorney's office for the district of north dakota (usaond) is working with the north dakota office of attorney general (ndoag) on the project safe neighborhoods (PSN) program in efforts to reduce violent crime activity in the fargo, north dakota area. The total crime index for fargo is 3 (100 is safest), which translates to fargo being safer than 3% of US cities. Violent crime statistics determined that a person's chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in fargo is 1 in 167, per 1,000 citizens, and in north dakota, 1 in 358. These statistics are being fueled by a population increase in the metro area (fargo, west fargo, and moorhead, MN). Violent crimes are influenced by easy access from the major cities of minneapolis, MN, chicago, IL, and detroit, MI, and tied to gangs. There is a significant mark-up in illegal drug prices in fargo compared to those cites mentioned and is a contributing factor for an increase in drug related crime in fargo. A PSN task force will further develop and maintain ongoing coordination among federal, state, and local with an emphasis on prevention, tactical intelligence gathering, more vigorous and strategic prosecutions, and enhanced accountability. Key partners in the project include the usaond; ndoag; statistical analysis center (SAC); bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives; federal bureau of investigation; homeland security investigations; drug enforcement administration; north dakota bureau of criminal investigation; united states marshals service; fargo police department; cass county sheriff's office; cass county state's attorney's office; youthworks; cass county jail chaplains; fargo and cass county school resources officers; moorhead police department, MN; and west fargo police department. These partners are key players in addressing violent crime affecting the fargo area.funding will be used to continue to support the PSN task force goals and objectives to reduce violent crime and create safer communities.