Summer in Western North Carolina comes with more than just a spike in temperatures – crime rates historically tend to climb during these months. To address this upsurge, the U.S. Attorney's Office is taking a firm stand on community safety, as U.S. Attorney Dena J. King outlined a multilayered plan to keep the streets safe. According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, this strategy encompasses federal prosecutions and partnerships, along with prevention initiatives tailored to stem the tide of violence.

King expressed the office's vigilance over the summer crime increase, reiterating a committed stance to public security, “My Office is fully committed to protecting our neighborhoods by identifying and prosecuting violent offenders, armed drug traffickers, and felons illegally possessing firearms, and leveraging the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to pursue charges against straw gun purchasers and gun traffickers," strengthening ties with various law enforcement bodies and community segments to build a robust defense against criminal activities, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Moreover, the U.S. Attorney’s Office isn't limiting its efforts to the courtroom; King emphasized that their dedication to safety also unfolds in active collaborations with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement entities – all in pursuit of identifying cases ripe for federal prosecution. On the frontline, these partnerships are critical in not just apprehending offenders but also in distributing essential training and employing cutting-edge technology that could wield a considerable impact on violent crime figures.

Community engagement is another front in this battle against crime, with the office diving into partnerships with a diversity of organizations including youth groups, to develop prevention programs that tackle the root causes of violence, “We are enhancing community involvement by partnering with organizations, youth groups, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to develop and support prevention programs that address the causes of violence,” King told the public, underlining a holistic approach that combines the punitive with the preventive in an ongoing effort to ensure the tranquility of neighborhoods during the high-risk summer months, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.