The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois has announced an expansion of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) in Chicago. This initiative, a component of the Department of Justice’s strategy to reduce violent crime, will now include downtown Chicago's economic centers and the entire rail system operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).
Previously implemented in seven neighborhoods on Chicago's West and South sides, PSN will now be active in three police districts within downtown financial zones and on CTA trains. This marks the first time that PSN is deployed on mass transit anywhere in the country.
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros stated, "Downtown Chicago is the capital of the region’s economy and the cultural and civic heart of the Midwest." He emphasized that violence affecting residents, businesses, and tourists can harm economic vitality. The expansion aims to create a safer environment conducive to business growth.
Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling highlighted that partnership with law enforcement is crucial for reducing violence: “Project Safe Neighborhoods reflects this spirit of collaboration.” Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart also supported the initiative, citing its necessity for addressing threats like organized retail theft and carjacking.
Federal agencies such as ATF and FBI are involved in this effort. ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon noted their proactive steps to disrupt violent crime, while FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating violent crime through collaboration.
Launched in 2001, PSN focuses on enforcement against violent offenders while partnering with local programs for prevention and reentry efforts. It follows four key elements: strategic enforcement, prevention/intervention, accountability, and community engagement.
The program allows for aggressive prosecution of offenders, hiring law enforcement personnel, covering overtime costs for officers working downtown or aboard CTA trains, purchasing equipment for crime reduction efforts, supporting task forces, providing training under PSN guidelines, and expanding messaging to deter violence.
The newly designated PSN Enforcement Zone includes all CTA rail lines across every neighborhood in Chicago and extends from Division Street on the Near North Side to I-55 between Clark Street and Lake Michigan on the Near South Side.
