Jacksonville Picked as One of Four DOJ Model Cities, With Nearly $300 Million to Fight Violent Crime
The U.S. Department of Justice has selected Jacksonville as one of only four jurisdictions in its Model Cities Initiative, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is the department named for funding — for hiring, technology, equipment and forensic capacity.
Jacksonville is one of only four places in the country chosen for a major federal public-safety investment. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the selection of four jurisdictions to receive nearly $300 million in federal funding through its Model Cities Initiative: Jacksonville, Florida; East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri. For Jacksonville, the department named to receive the funding is the City of Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
The Justice Department said the money can support hiring sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and other public-safety personnel, adopting new technology, purchasing or leasing equipment, enhancing forensic capabilities and capacity, and providing services that address mental health and substance use and reduce recidivism. The department said it will work with each jurisdiction to finalize and implement its public safety plan; its announcement did not break out a separate dollar figure for Jacksonville. Attorney General Todd Blanche will visit the four selected jurisdictions next month to present the awards and meet with local law enforcement officials, elected leaders and community partners, the department said.
"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. The initiative, announced in June 2026, takes what the department calls a whole-of-city approach, bringing together law enforcement agencies, local government officials and community partners, and the department said the four selected applications exemplified the innovative, forward-thinking approaches it sought.
