Arizona Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)

Project Dates: 2008-2009

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative was established by the Justice Department 2001 for the purpose of reducing gun crime in the United States.  Approximately $2 billion was disseminated to U.S. Attorneys in each district to engage in a variety of suppression, intervention, and prevention efforts to reduce gun related violence.  The Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety (CVPCS), through the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC), participated in the Arizona Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative through research and evaluation.

PSN Arrestee Survey Project

In cooperation with the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Center conducted interviews with recently booked arrestees to evaluate the effectiveness of the Project Safe Neighborhoods efforts in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety at ASU was contracted by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) to develop a survey instrument and methodological strategy to collect data on guns, gangs and drugs from those recently booked arrestees in the city of Phoenix. Over a 12-month period the Center conducted over 800 interviews with arrestees and the data was used by the Phoenix Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Partners for the purposes of strategic planning.

Violence Impact Project

An Evaluation of the Violence Impact Project (VIP).

In a collaborative research project with the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) and the Phoenix Police Department, the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety provided technical assistance for the Violence Impact Project (VIP). The Violence Impact Project (VIP) is associated with Project Safe Neighborhoods and seeks to reduce violence in an area that historically has had high rates of crime. The final report, “The Violence Impact Project: A Multi-Governmental Strategy against Violence” publication was the result of combined efforts of the Statistical Analysis Center from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, the Crime Analysis and Research Unit of the Police Department and the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety.

Research Staff

Charles M. Katz, Ph.D.
David Choate, M.A.