Las Vegas, Nevada - As part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich hosted a statewide gang and violent crime prevention summit in Las Vegas today for local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement, prosecutors, victims services, and community partners to discuss gang and youth violence prevention.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is one of the most effective crime prevention tools in the Department of Justice’s toolshed to reduce violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners are committed to the same critical mission - securing the right of all Nevadans to live free from violent crime.”

More than 150 law enforcement officers from several different agencies throughout the state, community leaders, and stakeholders attended the daylong summit. Presenters and panelists covered topics including: developing positive community relationships in neighborhoods, proven practices for gang prevention and intervention, utilizing social media to identify gang activity and recruitment, and discussions of potential approaches and solutions to violent crime. Attendees also heard from community and faith based leaders who discussed the need for community involvement in preventing and stopping violent and gun crimes.

As a result of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, violent crime in Henderson went down 12.5%; Las Vegas went down 27%; and Reno went down 4%, according to the 2017 FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, has prosecuted 525 firearms-related cases since Fiscal Year 2016.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN.