RACINE – The Racine County Board has authorized acceptance of a $323,000 Smart Prosecution Grant from the United States Department of Justice. The grant will provide funds for equipment and staff to support the Racine County District Attorney’s Office and a multi-agency Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF). 

Racine County was one of 90 communities around the nation that applied for the Smart Prosecution Grant, and only 25 received awards.

“I am grateful that Racine County was chosen to receive a Smart Prosecution Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice,” said Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson. “The resources from this grant will allow us to enter data into NIBIN faster and more efficiently. The problem of gun crime in our community is very real and ever-present. Prosecutors in Wisconsin have the laws we need to prosecute gun crimes, what we need is resources. The endless debate on gun control does little to help those of us on the front lines of this problem. I have said it before and I will say it again, in Racine County, prosecutors recommend prison in every case in which a felon possesses a firearm illegally. These cases have the highest priority in my office and the illegal use of firearms will not be tolerated here.”

The task force will feature a partnership with federal and local law enforcement including the district attorney’s office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Racine Police Department. The goal of the task force will be a reduction in gun crimes within the Racine County community.

"We must take steps to reduce gun violence in our community, and this award will make a difference in this effort," said County Executive Jonathan Delagrave. "I will continue to work with the district attorney and our partners in law enforcement to keep Racine County residents safe. I would also like to thank our district attorney, her staff, and the Data and Performance Analytics Division for their efforts to make this grant award a reality."

The grant will fund a specialized prosecutor and a machine that will add shell casings recovered by law enforcement to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBN). The VCTF, by utilizing the NIBIN, hopes to solve and prosecute more cases to make Racine County streets safer. The NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. This technology is vital to any violent crime reduction strategy because it enables investigators to match ballistics evidence with other cases across the nation.

“The Racine Police Department is honored to have partnered with the Racine County District Attorney’s Office in the application of the smart prosecution grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Assistance,” said Lt. Michael Smith of the Racine Police Department. “We are extremely pleased that Racine County was awarded this grant.  Funds from this grant will allow the Racine Police Department to further the NIBIN program which is currently housed and managed by our agency. In partnership with the ATF, the Racine County District Attorney’s Office, and surrounding law enforcement agencies we can further our mission of becoming a regional NIBIN site.”