Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Southern District Grant Program

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Southern District is a federally funded initiative administered at the state level by the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) on behalf of the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The program operates as part of a nationwide strategy led by U.S. Attorneys in each federal judicial district to reduce violent crime, particularly gun violence, through coordinated, data-driven, and community-informed approaches. In the Southern District of Ohio, OCJS serves as the fiscal agent and manages the solicitation, review, and administration of grant awards in alignment with federal priorities and guidance. The primary purpose of the PSN program is to support comprehensive violence reduction strategies that combine enforcement, prevention, intervention, and community engagement. Applicants are expected to propose projects that address specific violent crime problems within their jurisdictions using evidence-based practices. The program emphasizes collaboration across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and community stakeholders. Core design features include community engagement, prevention and intervention strategies, focused enforcement targeting high-risk individuals and locations, and accountability through data analysis and evaluation. Funding is intended to support activities such as law enforcement operations, community outreach, prevention programming, reentry services, and research partnerships that measure program effectiveness. Applicants must ensure that all proposed costs are reasonable, necessary, and directly tied to program goals. While specific award amounts are not defined in the solicitation, projects may request funding for a 12-month period. The program does not require a cost share or matching funds, reducing financial barriers for eligible applicants. However, funding is contingent upon federal appropriations and may be subject to changes in Department of Justice policies. Eligible applicants include units of local government and law enforcement agencies that meet reporting requirements under state and federal crime data systems. Each application must identify a fiscal agent responsible for managing grant funds. Law enforcement agencies are not permitted to serve as their own subrecipients. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, including financial management systems, staffing, and prior experience administering similar grants. Additional requirements include compliance with equal employment opportunity standards and submission of financial audits or reports. The application process requires submission through the OCJS Grants Management System. Applicants must complete a comprehensive proposal including a problem statement supported by data, a detailed project description, evidence-based methodology, sustainability plan, objectives with performance measures, timeline, organizational capacity, and collaboration board documentation. Required attachments include commitment letters from partner agencies, financial documentation, and budget narratives. Applications undergo a competitive review by OCJS staff and external reviewers, followed by final approval from state leadership and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The application window opens May 1, 2026 and closes June 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Award notifications are issued following review and approval processes, and funded projects operate from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Applicants may seek technical assistance from OCJS staff during the application period via phone or email. The program is expected to recur annually, although future funding cycles may be impacted by federal policy updates and appropriations.

Focus heavily on data-driven problem statements and clearly defined target populations; demonstrate evidence-based practices and strong collaboration partnerships; ensure all required attachments and compliance documents are included