KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The FBI is granting a community leadership award to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for its help with a new program aimed at getting the worst violent offenders off Kansas City streets.

Dubbed the “No Violence Alliance, or NoVA,” the idea is to identify the individuals and groups most likely to commit violent crimes and target them for harsh prosecution if necessary. Those who want to reform are offered the training and tools to do so.

The FBI says the university conceptualized and designed the project. It also provided the mechanism to identify offenders and the resources to train law enforcement officers.
A formal ceremony will be conducted next year in Washington, D.C., for award recipients. Chancellor Leo Morton is receiving the award on behalf of the university.