New Jersey Awards $15 Million in Grants to Thwart Gun Violence

More than 30 organizations will share $15 million in grant funding through the New Jersey Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) Program, with an emphasis on preventing gun violence. 

Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the funding earlier this month, which will be provided to non-profit community service providers that includes 16 in North Jersey. Among the funding initiatives is to support guidance counselors in school to help connect youth experiencing trauma with specific services, and provide grief counseling for children of victims of gun violence.

“Groundbreaking violence intervention and prevention programs, like the Community-Based Violence Intervention program, are essential in our efforts to combat violence in our communities,” said Murphy. 

Combating Gun Violence

The funding will be designated for use in the development and implementation of violence intervention and prevention programming in communities impacted by higher-than-average rates of violence. A specific focus will be placed on gun violence.

“Public safety is my number one priority…we are making another historic investment in communities across the state to support their critical violence intervention work,” said Attorney General Platkin.

Community Violence Prevention

Community violence intervention practitioners provide a range of services from street outreach to mentoring to career development. Cognitive behavioral therapy, case management, and afterschool programming can be included as well.

The funding will be used to support violence interventionists who identify others who are at a high risk of committing violence and work with them to stop the escalation and retaliation of violent acts.

“These community-based and community-led solutions interrupt cycles of violence and are an essential part of keeping our residents safe,” said Platkin. “With this funding, we will be able to deepen and expand our commitment to build a public health approach to reduce gun violence and other violent crime.”

North Jersey Funding

Nine Newark organization received funding—The HUBB Arts and Trauma Center, Hear My Cries, Ironbound Community Corporation, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Newark Community Street Team, REFAL, Inc., United Community Corporation, Urban League of Essex County and Weequahic Park Environmental Authority.

Among the North Jersey organizations to earmarked for aid include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern New Jersey; Hope and Future, Inc. serving Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties; Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences in Essex County; Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County; and three in Paterson—Juvenile Education and Awareness Project, Reimagining Justice, Inc. and SOLID Foundation Youth Outreach.

A Background on CBVI

Initially funded as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, the CBVI was lauded as a landmark moment for violence intervention work.

An additional $10 million was added as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget with $5 million on top of that appropriated from federal American Rescue Plan funds. The total CBVI commitment reached $25 million over the last two budget cycles.

“We are incredibly grateful to the federal government for providing funding and supporting our efforts to keep New Jerseyans safe from violence. Residents of our state can rest assured (we) will continue to work with dedicated stakeholders to establish innovative and evidence-based approaches to reduce violence and keep our communities safe,” commented Murphy.