Four US Cities Selected for $300 Million Federal Crime Reduction Initiative
Jacksonville, Baton Rouge, Jackson, and St. Louis will receive funding through the Justice Department's new Model Cities Initiative to combat violent crime.
Four U.S. cities have been chosen to share nearly $300 million in federal funding as part of the Justice Department's new Model Cities Initiative, designed to reduce violent crime and strengthen law enforcement.
Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri, were selected for the program. Attorney General Todd Blanche and other Justice Department leaders are scheduled to visit each city within the next 10 days to present the awards and disclose the specific funding amounts for each jurisdiction.
The initiative, launched in June, invited cities nationwide to submit comprehensive plans for crime reduction and public safety improvements. The program takes a "whole-of-city" approach, integrating law enforcement, local government, and community partners to develop strategies tailored to each city's unique challenges.
The funding can be utilized for various purposes, including hiring law enforcement and public safety personnel, acquiring technology and equipment, enhancing forensic capabilities, and supporting programs focused on mental health, substance abuse, and recidivism.
Jacksonville was recognized for a significant decrease in violent crime, with murders falling sharply in recent years. The city recorded its lowest murder total since at least 1995 in 2024. The Justice Department cited Jacksonville's advanced training, technology, and efforts to bolster investigative capabilities.
St. Louis, which has historically struggled with high crime rates, has also seen a notable decline in homicides and overall crime. The city's proposal includes expanding law enforcement personnel by over 300, modernizing policing technology, and enhancing public safety operations.
Baton Rouge is addressing a shortage of officers, which has led to initiatives like significant pay raises for police recruits. The city also operates a Real Time Crime Center that uses data analytics to support officers.
Jackson, Mississippi, was selected for its ambitious, technology-driven strategy aimed at tackling persistent violent crime. The Jackson Police Department plans to increase coordination among agencies, expand investigative capacities, and implement targeted enforcement measures.
"President Trump and this Department of Justice have demonstrated that Americans need not accept unsafe streets as a fact of life," Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. stated. "We have made tremendous strides in restoring public safety, and the Model Cities Initiative offers an opportunity to build on that progress."