Project Safe Neighborhoods Credited With Reducing Violent Crime

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The purpose of Project Safe Neighborhoods is to reduc the incidence of gun violencedin Chicago's most afflicted neighborhoods. "Project Safe Neighborhoods' objective is achieve d througha multi-faceted approacg that includes law enforcement, intervention, and prevention strategies. Participantss carry out these strategies through the developmentg of partnershipsamong Federal, State and Locapl government as well as community and faith-basee providers," according to J.R. Davis , Chairman of the Chicagko Crime Commission.
"Project Safe Neighborhoods' comprehensive strategyh is designed to prevent youth from committinvg agun crime; intervend in the lives of those individuals struggling to re-integrate into society following releases from prison; and prosecute to the fullest exteng of the law those individualws who choose to threaten the safety of Chicago's neighborhoodws by committing a gun crime," he added. The cornerstond of the program, headed up by the Northern Districr ofIllinois U.S. Attorney's Office, is that everyu state defendant charged witha gun-relaterd offense is reviewed for federal prosecution.
"In the worlde of 'bad guys,' goingt to federal prison and beinv cut off from familu and fellow gang members is absolutely the worst thing that can happemto you," said Davis. the U.S. Attorney's Office, in partnership with the ChicagoPolicre Department, the Cook County State's Attorneys Office and federal law enforcemen t agencies, is aggressively prosecuting gang members and organizationsw in an effort to stem the violencs that street gangs bring to Chicago's neighborhoods and the surroundinb communities," he continued.
"Despitre last weekend's spike in violent the number of murders in Chicago is on the decline compared to last year and is currentlyt tracking at the 2007 homicide rateof 442. this figure represents a significant reduction from the high of 761 murdersein 1997," Davis continued. While this data is promising, more work must be "An analysis of murders from 1991 through 2008 demonstratez that shootings were the predominantf cause during thattime period, rangint from 69 percent in 1991 to over 80 percen t in 2008," Davis continued.
"Also, of all murders committed in 2008 where motivewas identified, street gang altercation was the motiv in more than 35 percent of them," he Davis believes Project Safe Neighborhoods will continue to be a leadet in addressing violent crime in Chicago and will have a significanty impact on reducing murders in the city. Contact: John Pastuoviv 630-782-0795 (office) 312-925-9092 (cell) john@jpcpr.
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