December 22, 2021

The Broward State Attorney’s Office has been awarded $93,000 in federal grant funding to assist the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in fighting gun violence through the use of scientific analysis and focused prosecution of gun crimes, State Attorney Harold F. Pryor announced.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department was approved for more than $466,000 in U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance funding under the Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Integration Initiative to address gun violence in the city. The police department is assigning 20 percent of that grant money to the State Attorney’s Office over three years to help remove violent individuals from the community, reduce the incidence of gun crimes and armed violence, and improve the safety of the community.

The State Attorney’s Office has offered to dedicate three staff members to participate in case filing reviews with detectives to assist in investigating and prosecuting cases that lead to the arrest of violent criminals and those who are supplying them with firearms. State prosecutors will also confer with federal prosecutors to strengthen cases, seek enhanced prison sentences when appropriate, and work on bond recommendations.

The assistant state attorney in charge of the Career Criminal Unit will participate in monthly meetings with the region’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network to help share information. Staff from the career criminal unit and the office will review reports and provide clerical help for data collection and sharing.

“Gun violence has a severe impact on the safety of our community and we are working to ensure that violent, armed criminals and those who supply them with guns are held accountable,” said Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor. “We are very thankful to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the federal government for highlighting this issue and providing funding to attack it.”

More information is available here.