Justice Department Awards Jackson, Mississippi, More Than $63 Million Through Model Cities Initiative

The Justice Department said it awarded Jackson, Mississippi, more than $63 million on Monday through its Model Cities Initiative, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and strengthening public safety.

According to the department, Jackson was one of four jurisdictions selected from nearly 50 cities, in large part because of its progress in reducing violent crime. The department said annual homicides in the city fell from 156 in 2021 to 75 in 2025, though Jackson continues to face challenges related to gun violence, investigative capacity and public safety infrastructure.

The department said Jackson's proposal includes expanding its Real-Time Command Center into a Real-Time Public Safety Center, modernizing forensic and ballistic analysis, creating a specialized unit to combine ballistic evidence with criminal intelligence, and deploying unmanned aircraft systems to support emergency response. Other planned priorities include expanding law enforcement staffing, strengthening services for crime victims, and enhancing behavioral health and reentry programs.

The department announced the initiative in June 2026 and said it directs nearly $300 million in federal resources toward public safety strategies. Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and St. Louis, Missouri, were also selected, according to the department, which said it will work with each jurisdiction to finalize and implement its plan.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/918