AUSTIN, Texas — Federal prosecutors in Texas are rolling out a new strategy aimed at cutting down violent crime in Austin by increasing the number of cases brought in federal court.

U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons of the Western District of Texas said his office is focusing on Austin and working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to target violent crime.

“Putting bad guys in jail reduces crime. We’ve seen this across the country,” Simmons said.

At a press conference on Tuesday, he revealed his office is working with agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Austin Police Department, to find charges under federal jurisdiction when violent crimes are committed, such as firearms and drug charges.

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The push comes as violent crime in Austin has fallen from a pandemic-era peak but remains elevated compared with the mid-2010s.

Preliminary data reported to the Major Cities Chiefs Association show Austin recorded 66 homicides in 2025, compared with 23 in 2015, an increase of 187%. In that same window, U.S. Census data shows nearly a 10% increase in the city’s population.

Simmons said his office began coordinating with law enforcement earlier this year to file more federal charges against violent offenders in the city.

“As a result, we have over 40 defendants charged, or approximately 40 defendants charged under various charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, drug trafficking, and illegal possession of a machine gun,” Simmons said.

Simmons said federal prosecutors can “fill in the gaps” in local crime response. Asked about how local collaboration works in deciding which cases are appropriate for federal court, Simmons said his office reviews cases with a focus on “the worst of the worst.”

“We’re looking at those cases, see if we can meet the elements of a federal crime and if it fits, and this guy is one of the worst of the worst, then we will pursue those charges,” Simmons said.

Violent crime continued to decline in Austin in the first half of 2026, according to the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association. Simmons said it will take time to measure the impact of the increased federal prosecution effort.

Simmons also said the Travis County district attorney is part of the effort to ramp up prosecutions, and that he is satisfied with the district attorney’s participation in the program.