By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The Justice Department announced Oct. 30 that nearly $300 million will go to four jurisdictions through its Model Cities Initiative.
- The recipients are the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida, East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana, the city of Jackson in Mississippi and the St. Louis Police Department in Missouri.
- The funding can support hiring of sworn officers and civilian staff, equipment, technology and forensic capacity, along with prosecution and services addressing mental health, substance use and recidivism.
- The department did not say how much each jurisdiction will receive.
- Attorney General Todd Blanche is scheduled to visit all four jurisdictions in November to present the awards.
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department said Oct. 30 that it will award nearly $300 million to four jurisdictions under its Model Cities Initiative, a program it describes as aimed at reducing violent crime and restoring public order.
The selected recipients are the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, East Baton Rouge Parish, the city of Jackson and the St. Louis Police Department. The announcement did not break down how much each would receive.
The money can be used to hire sworn officers and civilian personnel who support enforcement, prosecution and related public safety work, and to purchase or lease equipment, adopt technology and expand forensic capabilities. It can also fund prosecution and services addressing mental health, substance use and recidivism.
The department said it will work with each jurisdiction to finalize and carry out a public safety plan, bringing together law enforcement agencies, local officials and community partners to build strategies suited to local crime concerns.
“The Model Cities Initiative reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime across the country,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said, adding that the selected cities are setting an example of proactive law enforcement. Blanche is scheduled to visit the four jurisdictions in November to present the awards and meet with law enforcement officials, elected leaders and community partners.
The Justice Department launched the initiative in June 2026, saying it would build on efforts to reduce violence, crime and disorder in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., and that the funding is intended to support sustainable strategies with measurable results.