PUBLIC LAW 115–185—JUNE 18, 2018 132 STAT. 1485 

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 

34 USC 60703. 

34 USC 60702. 

34 USC 60701. 

34 USC 10101 

note. 

Project Safe 

Neighborhoods 

Grant Program 

Authorization 

Act of 2018. 

June 18, 2018 

[H.R. 3249] 

132 STAT. 1486 PUBLIC LAW 115–185—JUNE 18, 2018 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3249: 

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. 

Æ 

(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. 

34 USC 60705. 

34 USC 60704.