Justice Department Model Cities Initiative: Jacksonville, Baton Rouge, Jackson and St. Louis Win Nearly $300 Million

Four U.S. jurisdictions will share nearly $300 million in federal money to fight violent crime under the Justice Department’s new Model Cities Initiative, the department announced Friday, Oct. 30.

The winners are Jacksonville, Florida; East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri. They were chosen from 47 applicants, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

What is the Justice Department Model Cities Initiative?

The Justice Department launched the initiative in June 2026, describing it as a “flagship effort” to reduce violent crime and strengthen public safety. It builds on what the department calls early successes in Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.

Rather than funding one program, the department says the initiative takes a “whole-of-city” approach, bringing together police, local officials and community partners to build plans tailored to each place. Cities competed by submitting comprehensive crime-reduction plans, Fox News reported.

“The Model Cities Initiative reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime across the country and ensuring the safety of every American,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the department’s announcement.

Which cities were selected

The department listed the specific agencies being funded:

• Baton Rouge: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
• Jackson: City of Jackson, Mississippi
• Jacksonville: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
• St. Louis: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

The Justice Department has not yet said how the money will be split. Blanche and other officials plan to visit each city to present the awards and reveal individual amounts, Fox News reported.

What the money can pay for

According to the Justice Department, funding can support:

• Hiring sworn and non-sworn officers and other staff for enforcement and prosecution
• New technology, equipment and forensic capacity
• Mental health and substance use services
• Programs to reduce recidivism

In St. Louis, the police department said its plan includes hiring officers and recruitment incentives, upgrading its Real-Time Crime Center, replacing cameras and license plate readers, buying drones and ballistic shields, and starting a law enforcement-led homeless outreach program with added social workers and victim advocates. Fox News reported the DOJ said St. Louis’s proposal calls for expanding law enforcement personnel by more than 300.

Crime context in the four cities

Fox News reported that the winners face different challenges:

• Jacksonville saw murders fall 38% between 2023 and 2025, the DOJ said.
• St. Louis recorded 150 homicides in 2024, down from 263 in 2020.
• Baton Rouge police were roughly 150 officers short earlier this year, prompting a major pay raise.
• Jackson was picked for what the DOJ called a technology-driven strategy against persistent violent crime.

Nationally, Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. said nonfatal violent crime declined 25% from 2024 to 2025.

FAQ