Joined by legislators, stakeholders, and community leaders, Governor JB Pritzker today declared gun violence a public health crisis and announced support for a $250 million state investment over the next three years to implement the Reimagine Public Safety plan, a data-driven and community-based violence prevention initiative.
Stakeholders have been a driving force behind the plan to coordinate and maximize hundreds of millions of dollars in future funding. The state will begin issuing Notices of Funding Opportunities for qualified organizations before the end of 2021 with a goal of enabling work to be well underway before the summer of 2022. […]
“Government’s first duty is to center public safety by and for the people,” said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago). “We must abandon the status quo because it continues to let us down and invest into the collective samaritan such as our Illinois communities and neighborhoods; and this plan will do just that. With this, we’re on a path away from decades of policies that have led us to this point, and towards providing vital, trauma informed services so no child, no parent, and no neighbor are left alone and isolated. This will be the beginning of creating and maintaining public safety for all and not a few.”
The new resources draw from federal and State funding, including $50 million from the fiscal year 2022 state budget. The administration will work with members of the General Assembly on additional $100 million appropriations in the budgets for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, building on the state’s existing anti-violence investments. The governor has more than doubled violence prevention funding since taking office, with the state now appropriating $507 million for violence prevention, diversion, and youth employment programs in FY22, including $125 million in funds made available from the American Rescue Plan Act. […]
The Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), sponsored by Senator Robert Peters and Representative Justin Slaughter, establishes the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFPV) to focus on reducing firearm violence in communities with the highest rates of gun violence.
“Law enforcement alone can never be the sole answer to reducing violence in our communities,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “Violence reduction and intervention are critical components to the modern public safety landscape as well as our holistic approach to combating crime. I commend our State partners for making this investment, which will help residents both in Chicago and across Illinois feel that much safer in the communities they call home.” […]
“This violence prevention plan is so much more than just the $250 million in community-based grants,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Westchester). “It is an evidence-based model that relies on collaboration between state agencies, academic organizations and our local violence prevention groups who know their communities
best to achieve meaningful and lasting change the people of our state deserve.” […]
Additionally, the Governor issued Executive Order 2021-29, declaring gun violence a public health crisis and launching a comprehensive, statewide approach to reducing gun violence and establishing the Reimagine program. The Executive Order requires relevant state agencies to work with the new Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) to address the systemic causes of firearm violence and to develop trauma-informed and equity-based strategies.
The overall violence prevention approach includes four key elements:
• High-risk youth intervention programs that have been proven to reduce involvement in the criminal or juvenile justice system, referrals of teens into therapeutic programs that address trauma recovery and other mental health services.
• Violence prevention services, including street-based violence interruption work, emotional or trauma related therapy, housing, employment, job training/placement, family engagement, and wrap-around support services.
• Youth development programs, including after school and summer programming to increase school attendance and school performance, reduce criminal justice system involvement, and build social-emotional persistence and intelligence.
• Trauma recovery services for young people, funded by Medicaid, designed and implemented by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to address trauma recovery from chronic exposure to firearm violence. A team-based model of care will include case management and school support services, group and individual therapy, and evidence-based family systems interventions.
$250 Million in Community-Based Grants
In the coming weeks, the OFVP will announce competitive funding opportunities for grants focused on technical assistance for violence prevention and youth development and intervention. Fifty million dollars in funding has been budgeted for the remainder of the state’s fiscal year 22, and $100 million for each of the subsequent two fiscal years will be requested.
ICJIA and IDHS have launched technical assistance and training opportunities for community organizations across the state to apply for funding that will help address factors that contribute to gun violence.
For information on available technical assistance and upcoming funding opportunities, visit the IDHS website at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx.
Office of Firearm Violence Prevention
Anti-violence funding will support the enactment of RPSA, which establishes the OFVP within the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to focus on reducing firearm deaths and injuries in communities with the most gun violence. […]
To develop sound recommendations on reducing incidents of gun violence, the OFVP is required to identify and work with violence prevention conveners in Chicago neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence. In areas outside of Chicago, the OFVP will form community advisory groups designed to lower firearm injuries and deaths.
Community-Based Violence Prevention and Intervention Action Plans
The Reimagine Plan aligns with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s (ICJIA) recently published violence prevention plan, a statewide effort structured on evidence-based strategies and practices and focused on measuring incidents of gun violence across the state and analyzing indicators that can predict acts of violence.
ICJIA’s researchers laid out five areas of focus to guide future prevention efforts:
1. Stop the violence, promote safety;
2. Support children, youth, and families;
3. Advance equity;
4. Support health; and,
5. Promote collaboration across state, municipal, and community-based agencies.
The ICJIA violence prevention plan, the Reimagine Plan, and today’s Executive Order build on existing state and federally funded youth jobs programs, career-training efforts, and the first of its kind Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) initiative. Through R3, ICJIA has devoted tens of millions of dollars of revenue from adult-use cannabis sales into equity and community-based programs across Illinois.
“ICJIA released the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan in September which supports the administration’s goals of breaking the cycles of violence caused by years of failed criminal justice policies and economic disinvestment in Black and Brown communities,” said Acting ICJIA Executive Director Delrice Adams.“Developed in collaboration with over 130 community violence prevention stakeholders and seven state agencies, the plan aligns with the Reimagine Public Safety Act by providing a coordinated strategy to reduce gun violence across the state.”
Executive Order 2021-29
Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2021-29 to support IDHS in its implementation of the RPSA, a critical component of the violence prevention plan. The newly formed OFVP, established by the act, will coordinate with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), ICJIA, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and other relevant state agencies to establish a public health approach to reducing gun violence.
“Because gun violence is one of the leading causes of premature death in Illinois and the United States, it is a critical public health issue,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Last year, approximately 1 of every 3 deaths in Illinois among those aged 15-24 years involved a gun. While gun violence affects people of all ages and races, it has a disproportionate impact on young adults, males, and racial/ethnic minorities. We must all work together to identify the roots of gun violence and what role each of us play in ending it. Gun violence is not inevitable; it is preventable.”
“Firearm violence is devastating to communities and individuals long after acts of violence occur,” Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson said. “Offering trauma recovery services with individual case management and therapy to young people who have been continuously exposed to violence is an essential step in the healing process and is in line with the Department’s efforts to address the social determinants of health.”
RPSA requires HFS to submit a State Plan Amendment to Illinois’ Medicaid program that could result in federal matching reimbursement for some of these services.
Further advancing the Pritzker administration’s work to reduce violence across the state, last month the Illinois State Police (ISP) announced a significant increase in its gun license revocation efforts as part of its larger work to rebuild the Firearms Services Bureau with a focus on public safety.
Since 2019, ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation has conducted more than 450 firearms enforcement details, with over 1,300 prohibited persons brought into compliance and over 10,000 firearms dispositions accounted for.
- GADawg - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 1:56 pm:
Mental health services in many parts of the state have still not fully recovered from the budget issues under the Rauner administration. It is difficult for many of those agencies to recruit and retain qualified staff. Many agencies have had openings that it takes a year to fill. Until the state does some serious short- and long-term work, like increasing rates and making sure that MCOs are paying their bills for starters, there will not be enough people to provide any additional services.
- Amalia - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:03 pm:
yep, coordinate with ICJIA….
- Corn Belt Brandon - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:14 pm:
Good to go hard at gun violence in this way. Make no small plans - wishing all involved great success. Just saw that 2 people were killed in Champaign. Gun violence ain’t limited to Chicago. Glad the funds will be available to cities statewide.
- Wow - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:21 pm:
Typical progressive Democratic approach. More tax dollars at an unfixable program..
- Wow - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:23 pm:
Over 30 paragraphs in this post. Not ONE mention of gangs. Libs bury their head in the sand, afraid to actually call out the gangs.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
===Libs===
So how should gangs be addressed?
What are “Libs” missing
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:27 pm:
“Government’s first duty is to center public safety by and for the people,” said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).
I am sure almost all Illinois residents totally agree with Senator Peters sentiments and acknowledge the government’s complete failure to keep Illinois residents safe.
- Chance the Scrapper - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:34 pm:
Wow - If it’s unfixable, why bother with anything? Your defeatism is depressing. There are proven strategies to reducing gun violence.
https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/topics/gun/gun_forum_panel_2.ashx
Don’t bury your head in the sand. Learn.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:35 pm:
If you choose “Libs” as your analysis, what will happen, what could happen, is this idea the the FoxNews talking points towards equating violence and race is baked into this “urban” prism that makes a real discussion on crime and the real failures at the city level and above become a dog whistle that has become so obvious that polling about crime isn’t even in the top 3 statewide.
It may feel good to have this “Libs” thingy but what you are doing is make it easier to redirect real angst others will choose to see after as “FoxNews Dog Whistles”
Something to really think on when piling on real problems for political gain, while using unhelpful language that’s unhelpful for focus.
- Captain Obvious - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:38 pm:
Yes, another state bureaucracy is exactly what we need to stem the violence. I read a heaping helping of generalities above but not many specifics about how these programs will prevent gun violence. But hey, let’s give peace a chance. I mean, DCFS does a great job with abused kids so there is no reason to think the OFVP won’t be just as successful.
- Interested observer - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:38 pm:
Wow—The kinds of large and centralized street gangs that used to be responsible for high-levels of gun violence, usually associated with defending drug markets, still exist, but they are no longer the primary problems in cities like Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria. Instead, most of the gun violence communities in these cities are experiencing stem from “interpersonal disputes and retaliations.” See this overview from UIC’s Great Cities Institute: “The Fracturing of Gangs and Violence in Chicago: A Research-Based Reorientation of Violence Prevention and Intervention Policy” available at
https://greatcities.uic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The_Fracturing_of_Gangs_and_Violence_in_Chicago.pdf
The approach that Pritzker admin is taking is the right one to address the actual drivers of violence.
- Been There - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
Pat Quinn’s “Neighborhood Recovery Initiative” reimagined.
https://www.cnn.com/2012/12/01/justice/chicago-crime-program-criticized/index.html
- Blue Dog - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 2:41 pm:
Im ok with all these efforts. But add one more. Commit a felony with a firearm. 25 years. No parole. A felon on probation caught with a gun. 15 years no parole.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
It’s interesting to see the reaction to this in some quarters. Plenty of people criticize Democrats for ignoring the crime and violence problem. Then many of these same people object to and oppose a reasonable and overdue plan to address crime and violence. Do we’re blamed for allowing the problem to get worse, but opposed on offering solutions.
That’s what it’s like dealing with today’s Republicans and their cheerleaders. Elected officials can lead, follow or get out of the way. It’s time for Republicans to get out of the way.
Good for Pritzker for proposing a big plan. The violence isn’t unique to Chicago, and it requires a major commitment by the state to change things. This is a step in that direction.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:50 pm:
Good on the governor. These social programs are very much needed, especially after the former governor sabotaged funding.
The people who scoff at the government spending money to help reduce violence are the same ones who say nothing when the government hands out billions in tax cuts and breaks to the people who need it least.
- Give Us Barabbas - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 3:57 pm:
And here we see a difference in how political views drive policy initiatives. The traditional response from conservative right wing government to gun violence is reactive: wait for it to happen, then punish and get revenge and call it “justice”. They played it that way for decades and it’s ineffective and unsustainable. The way JB is going about it is proactive; attacking the problem from the front end, before triggers get pulled, attacking the underlying causes so as to break the cycle of violence. It’s time to try it this way, the other has never really solved anything.
- The Young Gov - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
As to the lack of consequences for criminal behavior (@Rep Andrade), the police in the biggest police department in Illinois have extremely low arrest and clearance rates for shootings when compared to other big cities AND we have more police per capita in Chicago than NYC or LA. The more we can rebuild trust between Chicago Police and our communities most affected by gun violence, the more we can have the accountablity you and everyone is looking for. Until we make real progress there, we all suffer. Every time that semi annual consent decree report comes out, the lack of progress is painful. This isn’t the entire problem of course, but it’s a big part of it. Nice to see a reprieve from all the typical finger pointing at the event today. We should all be talking about solutions.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:20 pm:
How has just throwing people in jail worked?
https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/ccj/pdfs/firearmpossessionsentencinginillinois.pdf
“4) As a result of increased arrests, and mandatory prison sentences for most firearm possession offenses, prison admissions for these crimes increased 27% between 2014 and 2019, while admissions for all other crimes fell 38%; ”
The reality is we are not going to arrest our way out of this. It is going to take police reform, gang peace making, and an end to the pandemic.
- no_antonio - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:35 pm:
oppose a reasonable plan? Half a billion dollars is reasonable?
- Sue - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:36 pm:
This is all window dressing. Populist mush. Reinstate cash bail and legislate mandatory sentences for all gun- related offenses
- Chuck Button - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:47 pm:
GiveUsBarabbas and ArchPundit nailed it.
Good work to the elected leaders who have the courage to devote public resources to tackle “unfixable” problems in the most violent cities and neighborhoods in America.
We can’t give up on young people who live in poor and often violent communities. They deserve opportunities to work, learn new skills, and receive care for the traumas they have endured. Glad JB Pritzker is not shutting them out.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:51 pm:
The one thing missing is consequences for when these programs don’t work. I’m all for more support and more programs, but there needs to be a stick to go with the carrot.
- Chuck Button - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:58 pm:
What kind of consequences do you have in mind, Chicagonk? Financial penalties?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:58 pm:
===but there needs to be a stick to go with the carrot===
We have lots of sticks
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 4:59 pm:
===Half a billion dollars===
Where did you learn math?
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 5:14 pm:
I caught the audio on outdoor cameras for multiple shootings like that in my neighborhood over the past year. It is really traumatizing to the neighborhood, and even more so during the height of the pandemic where your house was supposed to be the safest place. The only solutions I can think of are political third rails, so it feels very frustrating to have little power to change the situation.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 5:28 pm:
===Reinstate cash bail===
It’s still on the books.
- snowman61 - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 5:32 pm:
Another great announcement and commitment of funds to address the problems. Another office created which will take time to set up and be staffed. Will there be regular reporting by the OFVP as to progress and results? As I have asked before, will there be accountability with the groups that receive the grants? What is working and what didn’t. Please direct me to these reports from the agency’s that have already been distributing the grants from the little funds we have been providing.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 6:03 pm:
@Snowman61 - all good questions - it would be great if we knew which violence intervention programs worked and which are a waste of money.
- Todd - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 6:45 pm:
Meh, $25 says they begin using this new office to spend money on rigged studies and begin a new push for more gun control
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 1, 21 @ 9:00 pm:
=== will not create two parent households which is a better solution.===
This is sad on so many levels of Jeanne Ives…
- Da big bad wolf - Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 9:29 am:
== will not create two parent households which is a better solution.==
Didn’t see the original comment. Lol. Someone actually said that? How would government make people marry each other? And love and support each other?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 2, 21 @ 9:45 am:
===How would government make people marry each other?===
Details, schmetails.