Project Safe Neighborhoods

Partnership with the Office of the United States Attorney, District of Connecticut

For over 12 years, The Justice Education Center and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut have collaborated on initiatives to reduce violence and curb juvenile crime. Entitled Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Department of Justice program is focused primarily on youth ages 14 -17 and enhancing community safety.  The Center serves as the fiscal representative and grants manager for PSN.

Innovative community outreach programming is a priority of this partnership. This includes awareness and education campaigns designed to curb gun and gang violence for children and younger youth.

Individualized Services for Youth-at-Risk

 

The Center works closely with youth services, juvenile probation, police, traditional and alternative high schools to identify and engage those youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system or at serious risk of engaging in criminal activity. The Center’s staff work to engage youth in educational, vocational and individualized support services. Individual Career Plans are developed with specific action steps and timelines to accomplish behavioral, educational and career goals. Increasingly, The Justice Education Center is developing partnerships for mentoring and interventions for youth who have experienced multiple trauma-related and family issues, including Youth Service Bureaus, and Juvenile Review Boards.

Adult Interventions

The Justice Education Center serves as the fiscal representative and grants manager of Connecticut’s Project Longevity. The project focuses on the reduction of gun and gang violence in the inner cities in partnership with the Governor’s Office, Office of Policy and Management and the Office of the United States Attorney. Project Longevity staff, law enforcement, community and social service partners join together to focus directly with gangs. The Project emphasizes both the consequences of further gun violence and the assistance that is available for gang members to turn their lives around.