Show-Me State Times

Justice Department officials are convening this week with local, state, and federal counterparts, community groups, and others to discuss ongoing and planned efforts to combat violent crime in the St. Louis area. This includes discussions on upcoming grant opportunities.

Officials met yesterday at Washington University with community groups, law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders involved in the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program to address violent crime reduction strategies, including the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). They also outlined seminars scheduled for next month to assist community organizations and law enforcement in applying for over 80 funding opportunities. Today’s agenda includes training law enforcement on tools to target complex criminal organizations.

PSN is a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing violent crime through community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused enforcement, and accountability.

U.S. Marshals Service Deputy Director Mark Pittella emphasized the importance of partnerships between various levels of law enforcement and community entities. "Partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement, civic leaders, business owners, and local organizations are key to the overall success of law enforcement to reduce violent crime in our communities," Pittella stated. He added that leveraging these relationships would help apprehend specific fugitives posing immediate threats to public safety.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Rody briefed attendees on the VCI’s reliance on partnerships between the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. The VCI has already deployed experienced trial attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section to collaborate with prosecutors in Missouri's Eastern District along with investigative agents and forensic experts.

Initially announced in Houston in September 2022, the VCI model has since expanded to St. Louis; Memphis; Hartford; and Jackson. In Houston alone, more than 50 gang members have been indicted on charges such as murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking through multiple investigations.

Rody noted that while violent crime rates are declining nationwide, it remains a chronic issue driven by guns, gangs, and organized groups.

"The Violent Crime Initiative will target the ‘worst of the worst’ violent offenders using data to focus our efforts," said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. She highlighted that tools like RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) and VICAR (Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity) prosecutions would be used against leaders of criminal organizations contributing disproportionately to violent crime in St. Louis.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franks previewed a planned collaboration offering conflict resolution lessons for students within St. Louis Public Schools.

On Tuesday, Justice Department officials are holding training sessions for local law enforcement on bringing cases under RICO and VICAR statutes. These statutes allow federal jurisdiction over certain crimes typically handled by state prosecutors resulting in potentially longer sentences for offenders linked with criminal organizations.

Next month’s seminars hosted by both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones’ office will cover various financial resources available for different initiatives such as stopping school violence or aiding small/rural law enforcement agencies among others.

The seminars are tentatively scheduled for July 9.

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