U.S. Attorney for Guam and the NMI Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, who was the guest during the Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt on Tuesday, presented the programs her office is implementing.
Limtiaco said $2 billion has been committed to support programs for the Project Safe Neighborhoods, or PSN, since it was established in 2001.
PSN is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce gun violence and gang crime through a network of federal and local partners.
Limtiaco said funds have been used to hire new federal and local prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime, develop and promote community outreach and support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies.
She said the department also initiated Gang Resistance Education and Training, or GREAT, which aims to build safer communities. GREAT is a officer-instructed, school-based curriculum that teaches the youth life skills competencies, violence-prevention and conflict resolution techniques, decision making and problem solving skills.
Limtiaco said GREAT improves communities by fostering collaboration among law enforcement, schools, local prevention programs and businesses to create a safer community.
The PSN and GREAT Task Force was established in December 2010 and is composed of federal and local law enforcement, military, school system, social service providers, non-profit organizations and the private sector.
“Over 20 law enforcement officers have already been certified as GREAT instructors and have graduated a total of 1,946 kids from inception of the program in October 2008. 528 kids graduated from the program from June 2010 to the present,” Limtiaco said.
She also highlighted the Diverse Communities Outreach Initiative which works with faith-based communities and consulate offices to increase and improve communication and improve community and law enforcement relationships.
She said the top issues that arose from forums with communities are human trafficking, hate crimes and civil rights, immigration, labor, cultural competency, national security and crime prevention.
Among the top community issues that were identified were youth violence, gang violence, gun violence, bullying and cyberbullying, sexting, child sexual exploitation and technology facilitated crimes.
Limtiaco said 3,259 students have also attended the Project Safe Childhood presentations they gave at seven schools in a span of one year.
She said they work with the Human Trafficking Task Force on Guam and with the Human Trafficking Intervention Coalition in the CNMI.
