Baton Rouge Gets $63M Federal Safety Grant

East Baton Rouge Parish received a $63 million award from the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday. The funding, spread over three years, is part of the Model Cities Initiative. The parish was selected alongside Jackson, Mississippi; Jacksonville, Florida; and St. Louis, Missouri. Attorney General Todd Blanche cited the area's severe and persistent violent crime problem as the reason for the choice. The money is earmarked for public safety projects, including police staffing and recidivism reduction programs. Unlike standard federal grants, this cooperative agreement gives the DOJ a say in how the funds are spent.

Mayor-President Sid Edwards called the award a major win for the city-parish. The funding can cover overtime pay and technology needs, which are major expenses in the general fund. This flexibility helps leaders manage a current budget crisis. District Attorney Hillar Moore is currently suing the parish for more funding for his office. He received a smaller increase in the mayor's proposed budget than he requested. Edwards said the new federal money could help cover some of those costs for the district attorney's team.

The grant is a one-time allocation. It will not provide recurring funds after the three-year period ends. Edwards reminded officials that the money is a three-year plan. Parish and federal officials said it is too early to detail specific projects. The final plans for the grant are expected in January. Metro council approval is required before any spending can begin.

The initiative builds on federal law enforcement surges in Washington, D.C., and Memphis. Blanche said there will not be a large physical presence in Baton Rouge, but law enforcement surges are expected. He noted that the program includes accountability for the federal government to provide funds and personnel. This may involve focusing on the most violent parts of the city with the highest crime rates.

Immigration activists worry the DOJ ties could expand the reach of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Rev. Alexis Anderson, a community advocate, stated that ICE is already present in the parish jail. She argued that every person arrested and detained in the parish is subject to ICE detainment. While there is no new requirement for more immigration enforcement than federal law already mandates, advocates fear an uptick in detentions. In Memphis, a similar partnership led to more traffic stops ending in detention, according to local reporting.

Blanche pushed back against the view that the project is primarily about immigration. He said trying to make the initiative about immigration misses the point. Police Chief TJ Morse previously declined an agreement with ICE that other local agencies signed. Morse told ICE officials that immigrants are not the primary drivers of violent crime in Baton Rouge. Advocates still cite a lack of trust in the administration's ability to protect residents from immigration enforcement.

The parish must now work with the DOJ to structure the spending plan. The three-year timeline means officials must allocate the $63 million carefully to ensure it lasts until the end of the grant period.