Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN):  Revitalized in 2018

PSN - Working Together to Stop Violent Crime and Make Communities Safer

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a top priority of U.S. Attorney Joseph Harrington.  As the number of convicted felons that roam the streets with firearms increases, we must work to both prevent firearms violations before they occur and to prosecute individuals who commit these crimes.

In the Eastern District of Washington, the Project Safe Neighborhoods program specifically targets gang-related gun violence, crimes of domestic violence in which a firearm is involved, and armed career criminals – those that have 3 violent felony convictions, such as sex abuse, arson, assault, robbery or murder.

As part of this District’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, this office has joined forces with the Firearm Crime Enforcement Committee (FACE).  This program presents information to convicted felons in area prisons.  An Assistant U.S. Attorney, United States Probation Officers, Washington State Department of Corrections Officers, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm Agents and others meet with felons who have been pre-screened as likely qualifying for the Armed Career Penalty if convicted of a subsequent firearms violation.  For these prisoners who are nearing release, the FACE panel presents information regarding penalties that will be imposed for subsequent convictions.  The panel also provides resources to help these prisoners make decisions that will keep them from returning to prison.

Also as part of the PSN initiative, our office meets with prosecutors, agents, and officers routinely meet with local community groups or hold events designed to educate and engage the public about the project and how the community can assist in reducing violence. 

Our office his highly committed to participate and help in training new state, local and tribal officers about federal firearms violations.  We conduct several training programs each year at locations throughout the District in an effort to provide law enforcement with the tools and information they need to build strong cases for prosecution.

Through community involvement, strict enforcement of firearms laws, and rigorous prosecution of offenders.  Project Safe Neighborhoods is spreading the message that gun violence is not tolerated in the Eastern District of Washington.

Please go to the Project Safe Neighborhoods website at www.bja.gov to learn more about this program. 

The PSN Coordinator for the EDWA is Brandon Pang.

He can be reached at (509) 946-4882.