>> VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY COULD BE SEEING MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS IN A VISIT TO CHICAGO TODAY, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND ANNOUNCED HIS DEPARTMENT'S PLAN TO SPEND 78 MILLION DOLLARS ON COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH.

>> EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY DESERVES TO BE SAFE AND TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THOSE FUNDS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THOSE REPRESENTED IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE MAKING STRIDES AND DRIVING DOWN VIOLENT CRIME AND BUILDING COMMUNITY TRUST ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND REPORTER MATT MASTERSON WAS AT TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

MATT, WHY WAS THE AG IN CHICAGO TODAY?

THE GIRL WAS IN TOWN FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE SECOND ANNUAL COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION CONFERENCE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN HELD IN CHICAGO AND IT'S GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS LIKE GARLAND TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> TO SHARE IDEAS VIOLENCE, PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES STRATEGIES ALONG THOSE LINES AND ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FEDS TO ANNOUNCE GRANTS LIKE THEY DID TODAY.

>> SO WHAT I MEANT, WHAT ELSE DID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY?

GIRL AND SAID THERE'S A FEW NEW INITIATIVES UNDERWAY, INCLUDING THAT 70 MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP EXPAND VIOLENCE, PREVENTION EFFORTS, RESEARCH IN TRAINING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THE AG POINTED TO A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES SINCE THE CREDIT OF THE WORK OF LOCAL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH HELPING GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.

ONE FOCUSED ON WAS READY.

CHICAGO THAT WITH HELPING AROUND HERE.

BUT GARLAND ALSO NOTED THAT IS A VERY PRECARIOUS WORK THAT PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN SEEN IN THE HOMICIDE RATE CAN BE WASHED AWAY VERY QUICKLY.

AND THAT'S WHY THE FEDS WANT TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE THESE EXTRA DOLLARS TO HELP THESE GROUPS GET THIS WORK CONTINUE.

>> SO WHAT WE KNOW THAT MERRICK GARLAND, OF COURSE, HE IS FROM THE CHICAGO AREA.

BUT IT WAS ANOTHER PERSON WHO'S LEADING TODAY'S EVENT.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW EDDIE BOCANEGRA WHO LONGTIME VIEWERS MAY RECOGNIZE AS A REGULAR ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HE IS NOW WORKING AS A SENIOR ADVISER IN THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, ALTHOUGH FORMALLY THE READY PROGRAM THAT YOU HERE'S SOME OF WHAT EDDIE AND THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL AMY SOLOMON TOLD AFTER TODAY'S EVENT.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING THIS, IT REALLY SIGNALS TO THE REST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN.

WE KNOW THAT.

>> ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME IS A COMPREHENSIVE.

IT TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.

AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PUZZLE IS NOT THE WHOLE THING.

>> ELSE THEY TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY HOPE THIS INVESTMENT MEANS AND ALLOWS COMMUNITY GROUPS TO DO SO.

IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING THESE GROUPS TO EXPAND THEIR WORK, TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK.

BOCANEGRA AND SOLOMON MADE CLEAR THAT THEY HOPE THIS FUNDING HELPS CATCH THE ATTENTION OF PHILANTHROPIC GROUPS AND CITY AND LOCAL LEADERS AS WELL TO HELP THESE GROUPS OUT.

>> THEIR HOPE IS THAT CITIES LIKE CHICAGO.

THEY'VE GOTTEN SUPPORT LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE PHILANTHROPIC BODIES THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THESE GROUPS.

BUT NOT EVERY CITY HAS THAT SUPPORT.

SO THEY'RE HOPING THAT IF THEY SEE THE FED STEP IN AND HELP THESE GROUPS BY PROVIDING THIS LEVEL OF FUNDING, THAT IT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ASSIST WITH THEM AS WELL.

>> SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT MASTERSON.

THANKS SO MUCH.

EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU CAN