Shapiro-Davis Administration Is Continuing to Invest in Evidence-Backed Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Pennsylvania Safer

PHILADELPHIA – One of the most powerful tools in combatting gun violence is getting a boost from the Shapiro-Davis Administration, which today announced a nearly $3 million investment for hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) that help violently injured patients at the critical moment when they are hospitalized and provide them with support after they’ve been discharged.

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis joined state leaders at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center today to recognize the grantees, which were approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) this morning. Davis leads PCCD, which won a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2024 to expand HVIPs across the Commonwealth.

“Every Pennsylvanian – whether you live in West Philly or Westmoreland County – deserves to be safe and feel safe in their community,” said Davis. “As the federal government backs away from supporting violence prevention work, we’re increasing our investments at the state level. Addressing the epidemic of gun violence is a top priority for our Administration, and we’re going to keep fighting to make Pennsylvania communities safer.”

The following organizations will receive funding to expand their existing HVIPs or start up a new HVIP:

• Penn Trauma – $736,372 – to expand the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center;
• Temple University Hospital – $875,000 – to launch their Wellness and Recovery through Advocacy and Patient Support (WRAPS) initiative to increase supports for patients with spinal cord injuries;
• University of Pittsburgh – $944,851 – to expand its Empowering Teens to Thrive program, which supports young people injured by violence;
• Urban Affairs Coalition, on behalf of the Chester Community Coalition – $350,000 – to relaunch the HVIP that was previously housed at the now-closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center through partnerships with local hospitals.

“Our program would not exist without the support PCCD has provided from the very beginning,” said Elinore Kaufman, MD, MSHP, an assistant professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma at Penn Medicine, and Medical Director for the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program. “When a patient comes to see us—even when they never wanted to—I believe it’s an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to address the injury that brought them in, but also to do a little bit more—to help them heal, to help make their life a little bit better, to help prevent the next injury, and to help make our community a little bit stronger. That’s what programs like this do.”

“This investment improves our ability to support survivors of violence and their families after Crozer-Chester Medical Center closed, exactly when they need hope and healing the most,” said Lashira Council, executive director of the Chester Community Coalition. “We value this investment, which will help us strengthen our hospital partnerships and ensure that more people in our community can recover, rebuild, and thrive.”

“Temple’s Trauma Victim Advocacy Program supported approximately 1,200 violently injured patients in Fiscal Year 2025. We are incredibly grateful to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for their vision and support, which makes this meaningful work possible,” said Abhinav Rastogi, MBA, MIS, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Temple University Health System and President & CEO of Temple University Hospital. “This grant will allow us to expand our efforts by adding a dedicated trauma psychologist, spinal cord injury advocate, and a visiting nurse practitioner to provide in-home care — helping patients heal and reducing the risk of rehospitalization.”

HVIPs provide trauma-informed care and support to individuals who have experienced violent injury while they are in the hospital and work with community-based partners to provide immediate and longer-term services and support. Research has shown these programs can help prevent cycles of gun violence by reducing the likelihood of reinjury and retaliation.

The Shapiro-Davis Administration is continuing to invest in evidence-based strategies to reduce gun violence and make Pennsylvania’s communities safer – and those investments are making an impact:

• Since 2022, Pennsylvania has seen a 35 percent reduction in homicides.
• In Philadelphia, there has been a 15 percent decrease in homicides this year, compared to 2024.
• In addition, 79 percent of the individuals who were shot in Philadelphia this year survived their injuries.

The new, bipartisan 2025-26 state budget includes the following investments in community safety:

• A 10 percent increase to the Violence Intervention and Prevention grant program, which is now allocated more than $62 million in state funding;
• Continued support for the new BOOST (“Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time”) initiative, which supports afterschool and summer programs that help keep kids safe and gives them enrichment opportunities;
• A $9 million transfer for the Victims Compensation Assistance Program, a financial lifeline for crime victims;
• Funding for an additional four State Police cadet classes.