HARRISBURG, PA — Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency highlighted major strides in reducing gun violence, expanding victim support, and strengthening community safety this past week as the Shapiro-Davis Administration rolls out new investments for 2025–26.
On November 17, Davis joined the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting to lead an educational webinar focused on best practices for trauma-informed reporting in the aftermath of gun violence. The session grew out of PCCD’s statewide Resources for Victims of Gun Violence needs assessment, which found that survivors and families often face long-term challenges that extend far beyond the initial crisis.
“Gun violence is declining across our Commonwealth, and that’s no accident,” Davis said, noting that the reductions reflect targeted investments in public safety. He urged reporters to approach violence-affected communities with accuracy, evidence, and empathy, adding that informed storytelling can help advance healing.
The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting led the webinar, which covered survivor experiences, avoiding harmful narratives, interviewing families with care, and centering community voices. Founder and Director Jim MacMillan said the findings of PCCD’s statewide needs assessment mirrored the organization’s own research, reinforcing the demand for trauma-informed approaches.
The assessment, conducted across 44 counties, identified several priorities for supporting gun violence survivors: long-term access to services, food and housing stability, youth-centered programs, and stronger community-based communication. Many victims reported that they rely heavily on trusted local networks rather than official channels when seeking help.
Statewide recommendations included journalist training, long-term services, hyperlocal outreach, and expanded gun safety education and secure storage. The report arrives as Pennsylvania continues to show significant drops in violent crime.
Since 2022, homicides have fallen 34.8 percent statewide, declining from 1,029 murders to 671 in 2024. In Philadelphia, homicides are down 15 percent compared with last year.
Those trends took center stage again on November 20, when Davis spoke at The Trace’s Safer Together Forum in Philadelphia. He highlighted investments through PCCD’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program and BOOST after-school initiative, two programs credited with driving statewide declines in shootings.
The newly enacted 2025–26 state budget includes a $5.65 million increase for the VIP program, doubling the state’s commitment since Governor Shapiro took office. Another $11.5 million supports BOOST, while $120 million is earmarked for school safety and security grants. Additional funding expands nonprofit security protections, county probation and parole programs, and long-term support for victims through the Victims Compensation Assistance Program.
On November 21, PCCD and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs announced another major public-health measure: expanding access to FDA-approved Medication-Assisted Treatment in county jails under Act 45 of 2025. The temporary expansion allows counties to use uncommitted Act 80 funds to support a broader range of evidence-based medications, including buprenorphine and methadone.
PCCD Executive Director Kirsten Kenyon said the shift gives incarcerated individuals more flexibility to find treatment that works, improving recovery outcomes and community safety. DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones added that covering all FDA-approved medications aligns with medical evidence and ethical responsibility.
Nearly two-thirds of people incarcerated in the United States have a substance use disorder, and studies show that offering MAT significantly reduces overdose deaths and recidivism. Counties will be able to apply for more than $7.7 million in Act 80 funds and $1.75 million in newly appropriated funding in the coming weeks.
PCCD also continues to administer additional federal programs, including the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment initiative and State Opioid Response funding. Awards for $12 million in SOR grants to expand diversion, treatment, and recovery services are expected next month following the Commission’s December 10 meeting.
Together, the week’s events reflect a coordinated push by Pennsylvania officials to reinforce public safety, improve community trust, and ensure long-term support for survivors as homicide numbers continue to fall statewide.
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