Attorney General Jeff Sessions Elects Eastern District of Arkansas to Receive New United States Attorney Position to Combat Violent Crime

The following press release was published by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys on Jan. 4, 2018. It is reproduced in full below.

LITTLE ROCK-Attorney General Jeff Sessions has selected the Eastern District of Arkansas to receive additional resources for the fight against violent crime. The district will receive an additional Assistant U.S. Attorney to focus exclusively on violent crime, one of 40 new federal prosecutors in 27 selected locations throughout the United States.

“Led by our 94 United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) task forces are hitting the streets across America to apprehend and bring violent criminals to justice," Attorney General Sessions said. “I have asked Congress for additional PSN funding next year because I believe nothing will be more effective at reducing violent crime. Under this program, I am asking a great deal of our United States Attorneys. I am both empowering them and holding them accountable for results. To put them in the best position to impact and reduce violent crime, it is my privilege to announce that through a re-allocation of resources, we will be enlisting and deploying 40 additional violent crime prosecutors across the United States."

Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas (EDAR), has made combatting violent crime, particularly gang and gun crimes, a top priority since being sworn into office in October 2017. Hiland will announce new initiatives and programs intended to address the acute violent crime problems facing the EDAR, particularly Little Rock. The addition of a violent crime AUSA will aid in this effort.

“The Attorney General has made curbing violent crime a focal point of his administration, and I am pleased that he has awarded this needed position to our office," Hiland said. “Violent crime, especially gun crimes, continues to be a plague on our communities. In the coming weeks I will be announcing measures to ensure that people who commit these crimes will be prosecuted with the full force of federal law. We will continue to team with both federal and local law enforcement partners and use all available resources and strategies to keep the law-abiding citizens of the Eastern District of Arkansas safe."

The EDAR continues to be an active participant in the PSN program, and remains committed to the program’s collaborative and targeted approach to reducing violent crime. The PSN program identifies the most violent locations in a district and the individuals who drive the gun and gang violence. PSN partners then develop and bring cases against those who commit violent crimes. Hiland intends to raise the level of federal involvement in cases involving PSN criminals, including bringing in additional resources to permit an increased number of federal firearm prosecutions.

In addition, through 2018, Little Rock and West Memphis remain a part of the Public Safety Partnership (PSP). PSP is a Department of Justice program designed to enhance support of state and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the investigation, prosecution, and deterrence of violent crime, especially crime related to gun violence, gangs, and drug trafficking. PSP builds on lessons learned from a pilot concept known as the Violence Reduction Network and enables cities to consult with and receive coordinated training, technical assistance, and an array of resources from DOJ to enhance local violence reduction strategies.

The Eastern District of Arkansas’ participation in the PSN and PSP programs, which have shared goals of reducing violent crime through collaboration with local and federal law enforcement partners, will enhance the office’s ability to reduce violent crime. The new federal prosecutor in the EDAR will work to further the goals of the PSN and PSP programs.

“Prosecuting those who commit violent crimes will be a priority for this office, and we will use whatever tools we have at our disposal to meet this priority," Hiland said. “The people and communities we serve deserve nothing less."

New AUSA Positions Breakdown by District

Northern District of Alabama - 1

Eastern District of Arkansas - 1

Northern District of California - 2

Southern District of California - 1

District of Connecticut - 1

District of Columbia - 1

Central District of Illinois - 1

Northern District of Illinois - 3

Southern District of Indiana - 1

Eastern District of Louisiana - 1

District of Maryland - 3