[115th Congress Public Law 185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 132 STAT. 1485]]

Public Law 115-185
115th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other 
            purposes. <<NOTE: June 18, 2018 -  [H.R. 3249]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Project Safe 
Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 34 USC 10101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant 
Program Authorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 34 USC 60701.>> DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``firearms offenses'' means an offense under 
        section 922 or 924 of title 18, United States Code;
            (2) the term ``Program'' means the Project Safe 
        Neighborhoods Block Grant Program established under section 3; 
        and
            (3) the term ``transnational organized crime group'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 36(k)(6) of the State 
        Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(k)(6)).
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 34 USC 60702.>> ESTABLISHMENT.

    The Attorney General of the United States is authorized to establish 
and carry out a program, to be known as the ``Project Safe Neighborhoods 
Block Grant Program'' within the Office of Justice Programs at the 
Department of Justice.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 34 USC 60703.>> PURPOSE.

    (a) Project Safe Neighborhoods Block Grant Program.--The purpose of 
the Program is to foster and improve existing partnerships between 
Federal, State, and local agencies, including the United States Attorney 
in each Federal judicial district, entities representing members of the 
community affected by increased violence, victims' advocates, and 
researchers to create safer neighborhoods through sustained reductions 
in violent crimes by--
            (1) developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans 
        to reduce violent crimes, including the enforcement of gun laws, 
        and prioritizing efforts focused on identified subsets of 
        individuals or organizations responsible for increasing violence 
        in a particular geographic area;
            (2) developing evidence-based and data-driven intervention 
        and prevention initiatives, including juvenile justice projects 
        and activities which may include street-level outreach, conflict 
        mediation, provision of treatment and social services, and the 
        changing of community norms, in order to reduce violence; and

[[Page 132 STAT. 1486]]

            (3) collecting data on outcomes achieved through the 
        Program, including the effect on the violent crime rate, 
        incarceration rate, and recidivism rate of the jurisdiction.

    (b) Additional Purpose Areas.--In addition to the purpose described 
in subsection (a), the Attorney General may use funds authorized under 
this Act for any of the following purposes--
            (1) competitive and evidence-based programs to reduce gun 
        crime and gang violence;
            (2) the Edward Byrne criminal justice innovation program;
            (3) community-based violence prevention initiatives; or
            (4) gang and youth violence education, prevention and 
        intervention, and related activities.
SEC. 5. <<NOTE: 34 USC 60704.>> RULES AND REGULATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall issue guidance to 
create, carry out, and administer the Program in accordance with this 
section.
    (b) Funds to Be Directed to Local Control.--Amounts made available 
as grants under the Program shall be, to the greatest extent 
practicable, locally controlled to address problems that are identified 
locally.
    (c) Task Forces.--Thirty percent of the amounts made available as 
grants under the Program each fiscal year shall be granted to Gang Task 
Forces in regions experiencing a significant or increased presence of 
criminal or transnational organizations engaging in high levels of 
violent crime, firearms offenses, human trafficking, and drug 
trafficking.
    (d) Priority.--Amounts made available as grants under the Program 
shall be used to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of 
individuals who have an aggravating or leadership role in a criminal or 
transnational organization described in subsection (c).
SEC. 6. <<NOTE: 34 USC 60705.>> AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to 
carry out the Program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2021.

    Approved June 18, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 3249:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-597 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
            Mar. 14, considered and passed House.
            May 16, considered and passed Senate, amended.
            June 6, House concurred in Senate amendment.

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