The Justice Department on Friday awarded Jacksonville, Florida, more than $73 million through its Model Cities Initiative, which the department said aims to reduce violent crime and strengthen public safety.
The department said Jacksonville was selected from nearly 50 cities for strong interagency partnerships, a coordinated approach led by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and plans to expand capacity, strengthen forensics, deploy technology, and enhance investigative resources. Funding can support hiring sworn and non-sworn personnel for enforcement and prosecution, adopting new technology, purchasing or leasing equipment, enhancing forensic capacity, and providing services for mental health and substance use to reduce recidivism, according to the department.
From 2023 through 2025, the city reduced murders by 38%, robberies by 25%, and aggravated assaults by 21%. The department said bullet-to-bone shootings declined from 278 to 268, and non-domestic shootings fell from 1,340 to 1,029 in that period.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters called the award “this generational investment in our community’s safety.” He said it will help strengthen investigations and update technology.
The department said it announced the Model Cities Initiative in June 2026 and will work with each jurisdiction to finalize and implement local public safety plans. The specific departments funded include the City of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, along with agencies in Baton Rouge, Jackson, and St. Louis, the department said.