East Baton Rouge Parish is taking a bold step to transform its local criminal justice system. By applying for a competitive $125 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Model City Initiative, local leaders hope to address systemic crime using a unified, multi-agency approach.
A Comprehensive Approach to Public Safety
Rather than focusing solely on traditional policing, the grant proposal targets the root causes of crime. Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Chris Csonka, emphasizes that true public safety requires investing in behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, re-entry programs, and juvenile crime diversion. Over 15 local organizations collaborated to craft a strategy that serves the entire parish.
Modernizing Resources and Technology
A major hurdle in Baton Rouge’s crime-fighting efforts involves fragmented data. Currently, law enforcement agencies collect crime statistics using different systems. The proposal allocates funding to build a unified data system and expand real-time crime centers parish-wide. Additionally, funds will support:
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Civilian Crisis Response Teams: Clinicians will respond to non-violent crisis calls, allowing police officers to focus on core law enforcement duties.
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Legal and Judicial Support: The District Attorney’s office will hire additional prosecutors, victim advocates, and investigators.
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DNA Backlog Reduction: Targeted funding will clear local DNA evidence backlogs to speed up court prosecutions.
Looking Ahead
With strong backing from state and federal officials, Baton Rouge stands out as a strong candidate for the DOJ initiative. Federal administrators are currently reviewing proposals in Washington, D.C., with final selections expected before the end of the year. If awarded, this funding will provide East Baton Rouge with unprecedented resources to build a safer, more supportive community.