Rep. Sweeney Announces $1M for Gun Violence Prevention in Cuyahoga County

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) today announced nearly $1M in federal funding has been awarded for initiatives in Cuyahoga County aimed at combating gun violence. The federal funding has been made available through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Byrne State Crisis Intervention Plan (SCIP) with appropriations from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.

“The ongoing epidemic of gun violence in our local communities has exacted too high a price from communities and families across Ohio; we owe it to our kids to take immediate and meaningful action to prevent further loss due to gun violence,” said Rep. Sweeney. “In spite of the reluctance to do anything on the part of some lawmakers, I am grateful to see the Biden-Harris Administration lead the way in finding bipartisan solutions that will empower local communities in Northeast Ohio to better respond to this growing crisis. Now it's time for state leaders in Columbus to do the same.”

Grant funds will go to mobile crisis response teams, courts with dockets focused on violence prevention, and community treatment programs. Crisis response teams seek to help individuals experiencing mental health crises rather than take them to jail, and the specialized court dockets prioritize mental health, substance abuse, at-risk juveniles, and veterans.

Grant funding have been awarded to the following organizations in Cuyahoga County:

• Case Western Reserve University Center on Evidence-Based Practices: $516,400.89
• Cuyahoga County Recovery Resources: $148,024.34
• Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Veterans Treatment Court: $100,000
• Shaker Heights Police Department: $171,158.04