The federal government is bringing a pilot project to the Valley in the hope of reducing crime.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Tim Heaphy was in Harrisonburg Tuesday to get it started.

Heaphy says the overwhelming message, when it comes to criminal justice and crime prevention in the Valley, is youth at risk.

He says this pilot program aims to help the community tackle this problem.

"Apprehending the people that are responsible for that violence, bringing impactful prosecutions, but also trying to plant some seeds in those communities so young people don't step in behind those we arrest," says Heaphy.

He says things like violence, gangs and drugs do exist in Harrisonburg, and with younger children.

"We need to compete with that attractive alternative with positive things, and that just comes down to just sort of old fashioned supervision and time spent," says Heaphy.

He says this program will assist the community in doing that.

"Try to help people doing active crime prevention, have more support, more information, more resources to do that good work," adds Heaphy.

Community Outreach Coordinator Gwen Mason says many programs are struggling with the economy and budget cuts.

"There are never enough resources, there are never enough adult volunteers, there is never enough supply to meet the demand," says Mason.

However, through grants and working with the community, this is only the beginning.

"Continuing the conversation here in the community and identifying those organizations and matching them up with the resources that the justice department offers," says Mason.

About two dozen people from the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area attended Tuesday's meeting, including law enforcement officials, school superintendents and the Commonwealth's Attorney.

Heaphy says his goal, first and foremost, is to lock people up, but he also wants to be on the front-end of that issue and help prevent crime before it happens.