In Colorado, Project Exile, which operates under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods, has resulted in the filing of federal firearms charges against over 600 defendants since it began in 1999. Of the 365 whose cases have been completed, federal judges have handed down prison sentences totaling 18,671 months (roughly 1,600 years), or an average of 5 years each. The other defendants are awaiting dispositions and/or sentencing in their cases. In fiscal year 2003, federal prosecutions of firearms cases in Colorado jumped 45 percent, from 118 to 172 defendants.
"Newly released data shows record-levels of federal prosecutions of gun crime," said Attorney General Ashcroft. "Gun criminals are paying unprecedented penalties, and law-abiding Americans are enjoying unprecedented safety. Under President Bush’s leadership, Project Safe Neighborhoods is making a tremendous difference in ensuring that gun crime means hard time."
Between 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, the violent crime victimization rate plunged 21 percent. Approximately 130,000 fewer Americans were victims of gun crime in 2001-2002 than in 1999-2000.
Several weeks ago United States Attorney John Suthers announced that the Department of Justice has awarded over $800,000 in grant monies to the State of Colorado’s Division of Criminal Justice under the 2003 Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Grant Program to reduce gun crime by networking existing local programs and providing those programs with additional resources. During Suthers tenure as U.S. Attorney, the U.S. Department of Justice has allocated over $3 million to a broad coalition of government and non-profit entities in Colorado.
U.S. Attorney Suthers praised the hard work of all three Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive’s (ATF) groups in Colorado and the police and sheriffs departments that support them. He also thanked the hard working federal and state prosecutors who have produced the record setting numbers. "We have put together a great partnership of local, state and federal agencies to combat gun crime in Colorado, and our efforts are starting to see some dramatic results," Suthers said.
Department of Justice press release, Dec. 12, 2003
