HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro on Monday proposed a state budget that significantly expands funding for community violence intervention programs, pointing to sharp declines in gun homicides and shootings as evidence the strategy is saving lives across Pennsylvania.
The governor’s budget plan calls for increased investments in programs aimed at preventing gun violence before it occurs, citing a 46.5 percent drop in gun homicides since their peak in 2022. Supporters say the reductions coincide with sustained state funding for evidence-based community violence intervention efforts.
Under the proposal, funding for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Violence Intervention and Prevention program would rise by $5.5 million, bringing the total allocation for the 2026–2027 fiscal year to $68.5 million. The budget also includes an additional $1 million for the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time program, increasing its funding to $12.5 million.
CeaseFirePA CEO Adam Garber welcomed the proposal, saying continued investment is critical as gun homicides have declined for three consecutive years. He said the results demonstrate that community violence intervention programs are working and should remain a funding priority.
Garber said public safety should not be viewed through a partisan lens, adding that gun violence affects rural, urban, and suburban communities alike. He warned that recent reductions in federal funding for violence intervention programs make state-level commitments more important than ever.
CeaseFirePA and its education fund have repeatedly argued that sustained funding is necessary to maintain progress. A report released in March 2025 found that historic investments in violence prevention programs were directly linked to reductions in gun homicides. The group cautioned that without ongoing support, shootings could begin to rise again.
That report called for a $100 million annual investment in community violence intervention programs, roughly $8 per Pennsylvania resident. CeaseFirePA said reaching that level could save the state up to $500 million a year by reducing healthcare costs, criminal justice expenses, and broader economic losses, while also supporting tourism and business growth.
According to a January 2026 analysis of Gun Violence Archive data by the CeaseFirePA Education Fund, total victims of gun violence statewide have fallen by 42 percent since 2022, while gun deaths declined by 38 percent. Philadelphia recorded a 52 percent decrease in gun violence over two years, reaching its lowest levels in a decade. Allegheny County also saw a significant reduction, with gun violence down 30 percent over the same period.
Shapiro’s budget proposal now moves to the General Assembly, where lawmakers will debate funding levels in the coming months as advocates press for continued and expanded investment in violence prevention programs they say are producing measurable results.
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