Justice Department plans $200m in Investments

The Justice Department has announced it will award 49 grants to states, territories, and the District of Columbia to fund state crisis intervention court proceedings, such as extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs. This funding of over $231 million aims to prevent those who pose a threat to themselves or others from accessing firearms, therefore reducing gun violence. The funding is part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, which seeks to address and reduce gun violence.

The awards will support evidence-based programs proven to help protect children, families, and communities from senseless acts of gun violence, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. The funding will be administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and will provide funding for the implementation of state crisis intervention court proceedings, extreme risk protection order programs, and other gun violence reduction initiatives. The program will also invest in and highlight proven state and local violence prevention and intervention programs.

This announcement is part of the most significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The law allocates a total of $1.4 billion over five years to the Office of Justice Programs, with the aim of reducing and preventing crime and promoting a fair and effective criminal justice system. The Justice Department has long supported state efforts to increase the use of ERPOs and released model legislation in 2021 to help states create their own extreme risk protection order systems. The projects funded by this program will have to demonstrate that they have taken measures to safeguard the constitutional rights of an individual subject to a crisis intervention program or ERPO initiative.

“The resources we are announcing today will give communities the tools they need to prevent firearm violence and deliver support to those who are at risk of committing or being victimized by gun crime,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. This investment in community safety is a step towards addressing and reducing gun violence and ensuring that everyone can live free from the fear of violence.