[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-185
115th Congress

An Act


 
To authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other
purposes. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. <> SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant
Program Authorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. <> 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. <> 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. <> 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

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(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. <> 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. <> 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:
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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.