An act to authorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program, and for other purposes
PL 115-185 (H.R.3249), enacted 06/18/2018

132 STAT. 1485 
PUBLIC LAW 115–185—JUNE 18, 2018 
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 Neighbor-
hoods 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] 
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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. 
(3) collecting data on outcomes achieved through the Pro-
gram, including the effect on the violent crime rate, incarcer-
ation 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 avail-
able 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. 
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