FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Contacts:
Kirstin Alvanitakis, Lt. Governor’s Office, kirstinalv@pa.gov
Kirsten Kenyon, PCCD, kkenyon@pa.gov
Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro-Davis Administration today took the first steps to use $8.5 million in federal funds for gun violence prevention, crisis intervention, and public safety, with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) voting to approve a statewide plan for resources allocated through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“Pennsylvania’s State Crisis Intervention Program Plan provides a roadmap for new initiatives that can help improve the lives of Pennsylvanians and build safer communities,” said PCCD Chairman Lt. Gov. Austin Davis.
The federal State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) provides funds to implement state crisis intervention court proceedings and related initiatives designed to reduce gun violence. These federal funds are part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, enacted a year ago in the wake of the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and other acts of gun violence across the country. PCCD is responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s formula-based SCIP allocation, and the Commission serves as Pennsylvania’s Crisis Intervention Advisory Board.
Pennsylvania is among the first states in the nation to reach the milestone of developing and adopting its State Crisis Intervention Program Plan.
Pennsylvania’s adopted FY 2022-2023 SCIP Funding Plan proposes utilizing federal funds to support state and local initiatives to:
- Improve crisis intervention services and supports across behavioral health, civil, legal, and other settings, with a focus on reaching people and communities experiencing gun violence;
- Address the intersections of domestic violence and intimate partner violence with gun violence; and
- Enhance coordination of services and responses to gun violence victimization.
“Our Administration is working with law enforcement and community organizations to reduce and prevent gun violence and make our communities safer and our families healthier, but we can never forget about or leave behind the victims and survivors, who often struggle with mental health issues, physical ailments or impairments, and financial difficulties,” said Lt. Gov. Davis. “I’m especially proud this Plan devotes $3 million in funds to support the Resources for Gun Violence Victims Initiative I announced last week in Philadelphia, providing much-needed assistance to communities and survivors.”
Following today’s action, Pennsylvania’s SCIP Plan will now head to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance for review and approval. More detailed information about SCIP as well as a copy of the adopted SCIP Plan is available on PCCD’s website here.
At today’s meeting, the Commission also took action to approve 99 grant awards and augmentations totaling approximately $26 million in state and federal funds. These approved projects support initiatives ranging from youth-focused prevention initiatives to programs that will improve criminal justice processes and investigations to County Intermediate Punishment Treatment Programs, among others.
More information about the actions approved at today’s Commission meeting are available on PCCD’s website.
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