The proposed project targets all rural census tracts of lancaster county, south carolina, and is based on the most rigorous needs assessment conducted in county history

This $299,955 federal project grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Rural Violent Crime Initiative (CFDA 16.039) will fund a comprehensive strategy to reduce violent crime in rural Lancaster County, South Carolina. The key elements of the project include:

1. Establishing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to enhance collaboration between law enforcement, service providers, and the community.
2. Expanding community engagement through outreach fairs, neighborhood crime watches, public awareness campaigns, and home visits to over 900 households.
3. Implementing an evidence-based crime mapping approach using risk terrain modeling to identify environmental factors linked to violent crime.

The 3-year project will run from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026 and aims to strengthen the county's capabilities to address unique public safety challenges in rural areas through improved training, technology, and community-based crime prevention programs.

Three critical elements are proposed: formation of a criminal justice coordinating council; expanded community collaborations that include outreach fairs, neighborhood crime watches, public awareness campaign, and home visits conducted to over 900 households; and an evidence-based strategy (risk terrain modeling) to conduct crime mapping of environmental factors linked with violent crime.