Based on information released on August 20 by Governor Kathy Hochul, it has been observed that incidents of shootings resulting to injury has experienced a significant downslide in New York State, dipping by 29 percent as of July 2024, in comparison to similar seven-month period last year. This significant reduction in occurrences of gun violence was part of the outcomes of the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program. The sizable reduction saw an impressionable impact in several communities that are being policed by the 28 police departments involved in the GIVE initiative. Emphasizing the relevance of the program, Hochul underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of New Yorkers, which she affirms as her highest priority.
One city that has recorded a profoundly massive decline in shootings is Yonkers, with a 57 percent reduction in gun-inflicted violence. Other areas that exhibited considerable declines in the first seven months of 2024, when pitted against the same period the previous year, include: Nassau County, with a 56 percent drop; Suffolk County, experiencing a 50 percent decline; Rochester, registering a 35 percent cut; and Syracuse with a 32 percent reduction. These locations have participated actively in the GIVE initiative backed by the New York State, substantiating the significance of the GIVE initiative.
During the period spanning January 1st to 31st July, 497 shooting incidents causing injury were recorded in the previous year (2023). Fast-forward exactly a year later, and the figure has slashed dramatically to 351 incidents within the same interval. GIVE, through a support net of 28 police departments spread across 21 counties consisting of the majority population of the state (barring New York City), has surely made considerable strides in quelling the wave of gun violence.
The toll of individuals who fell to gun violence in regions under the GIVE umbrella during the same period also saw a 21 percent dip. The casualty figure standing at 70 (between January and July 2024) indicated an improvement from the previous year’s 89, pointing out a significant decline.
The gun violence data derived from the record of each police department participating in the GIVE initiative, for July 2024, can be accessed via the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) official website. One of the promising facts deriving from the data is the 11 percent reduction in gun-related violence reported from the New York City Police Department (530 incidents as opposed to 595) for the period leading up to July 2024, comparing favorably to the same timeframe a previous year.
Moreover, other areas of the GIVE communities besides NYC also experienced a decrease in gun-related disturbances, reinforcing the effectiveness of the action plans set forth by the governor. The Enacted Budget for FY25 acknowledges this fact and includes an investment of $347 million secured by Governor Hochul for a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing and reducing gun violence.
The governor’s investment encompasses nationally acknowledged initiatives under the administrative oversight of DCJS, which offers financial aid, training as well as technical backing to law enforcement bodies and community-associated groups who are most affected by hardcore criminal instances perpetrated via the use of firearms. The primary portion of the funding — nearly $36 million — is for facilitating the GIVE initiative.
The GIVE initiative, carried out by DCJS, assists 28 police departments dispersed across 21 counties in implementing evidence-supported strategies that have been successful in the past in terms of decreasing gun violence. The strategies involve problem-oriented policing, hot-spots policing, focused deterrence/group violence intervention, street outreach, and crime prevention through environmental design.
Approximately $21 million of the financing is allocated for the SNUG Street Outreach program, which adopts a public health approach to contain the outspread of gun violence. This program identifies the origin, interrupts the transmission, and provides treatment for individuals, families, and communities affected by violence. The program is operated in 14 communities, employing almost 200 outreach workers, social workers, and case managers, who resolve conflicts peacefully and respond to shooting incidents to prevent retaliation.
Additionally, $18 million is set aside for the distinctive network of Crime Analysis Centers, which conduct thorough analyses, compliation, and distribution of intelligence, information, and data to law enforcement agencies around the state. These centers, functioning in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies spread across 10 counties and NYC, worked on more than 90,000 assistance requests last year, helping agencies deal with various crimes.
Project RISE, another support initiative, receives up to $20 million to coordinate community stakeholders in response to gun violence. The program has supported 99 organizations in its initial year, including 74 grassroots programs, boosting numerous programs and services such as academic backing, employment services, mentoring, and delinquency/violence prevention.
DCJS also provides backing to the violence interruption efforts of New York City, contributing $5 million to its Crisis Management System (CMS) allowing programs to scale. Finally, a significant sum of money is put into initiatives such as Problem-Oriented Policing, Focused Deterrence/Group Violence Intervention, and more.
In summary, the measures undertaken by the GIVE initiative, funded by the Governor’s office and managed by DCJS, are paying off as the state of New York and its communities are noticing a considerable decrease in the rates of gun violence. However, the battle to entirely eliminate such violent incidents continues in relentless pursuit of a safer environment for everyone.