Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)

What is Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)?

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.

"Operation 922" is the local implementation of the national PSN initiative in the Western District of Oklahoma.  Rather than focusing on prosecutions coming from a geographic area, "Operation 922" prioritizes prosecutions on the subject matter plaguing Oklahoma -- domestic violence.  As part of this initiative, federal prosecutors focus on enforcing 18 U.S.C. § 922 , which precludes specific individuals from possessing firearms or ammunition.  Here, the focus is on domestic violence abusers who are subject to a victim protection order or restraining order (VPO), or who have been previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.   In addition to these cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes many domestic abuse cases in Indian Country, including conduct involving strangulation, homicide, assault, battery, etc.  

"Operation 922" is an initiative built on a strong partnership with multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutor’s offices, as well as non-profit providers like Palomar, Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center, and its 30+ partner agencies working together to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence and bring domestic abusers to justice. 

"We cannot have safe neighborhoods without first having safe homes," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.  "We are bringing the power of federal prosecution to help protect women and children who are the subject of repeated abuse and violence, particularly when that violence escalates to a place where firearms or weapons are involved.  We are proud to partner with and assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors, who are already working tirelessly to combat the epidemic of domestic violence in Oklahoma."