By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced continued progress in bringing down gun violence and awarded nearly $36 million to local law enforcement agencies to further reduce violent crime.
Shooting incidents with injury declined 28 percent during the first five months of 2024 when compared to the same period last year, as reported by police departments participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative.
The 28 percent decline reflects 218 shooting incidents with injury from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2024, compared to 303 incidents from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2023. Data for each of the 28 police departments participating in the GIVE initiative is available online. That data also shows the number of individuals shot in those incidents and the number of individuals killed by gun violence for the same period.
This marks the second consecutive year in which Governor Hochul has secured record-level funding for the GIVE initiative, which supports 28 police departments in 21 counties with the majority of the state’s population outside of New York City. The initiative uses evidence-based strategies to reduce shootings, save lives and combat violent crime. Information on the nearly $36 million awarded on Thursday to local law enforcement agencies is available online.
In addition to the decreases in gun violence experienced in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported declines in gun violence through June 9, 2024. When comparing the same timeframe in 2023, there were 41 fewer shooting victims and 39 fewer shooting incidents. New York State Police also seized 973 guns through May 2024, and the agency is likely on pace to exceed last year’s total of 1,463. The number of guns seized during the first five months of this year is more than those seized annually in 2018 (551), 2019 (528), and 2020 (517).
Index crimes in all seven categories – four violent (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and three property (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) – also declined outside of New York City during the first quarter of 2024 when compared to the first quarter of last year. Preliminary data reported to the State by police departments and sheriffs’ offices showed a 10 percent reduction in total index crimes, a 6 percent decrease in violent crime; and an 11 percent decline in property crimes. Notably, these data showed a 10 percent decrease in larcenies and a 20 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts. Reported felony crimes in New York City, meanwhile, decreased 2 percent through June 9, 2024.
The GIVE grant cycle runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and state funding supports personnel, overtime, equipment, and technology. The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provides funding, technical assistance, and training through GIVE. This is the second year in which the initiative has supported 28 police departments, and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties: Albany, Broome, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Dutchess, Erie, Jefferson, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Rensselaer, Rockland, Schenectady, Suffolk, Tompkins Ulster, and Westchester. GIVE funding totals $36,199,999, with DCJS awarding $35,937,910 in grants; the remaining is available to fund emerging issues identified by participating agencies.
