West Chester, PA - Today, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Offices of Gun Violence Prevention and Victims’ Services collaborated with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) to host the second stakeholder listening session for PCCD’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Aimed to guide the work of the Office, the convening brought together domestic violence advocates, allies, and law enforcement professionals to discuss the intersecting trends of gun violence and domestic violence, as well as policy, programming, and resource needs to strengthen support services for survivors and their loved ones.
In 2023, homicides decreased by 16 percent across Pennsylvania – greater than the national average. While this is welcomed progress, according to PCADV, during the same time period, gun-related domestic violence homicides increased by 14 percent statewide, reaching a total of 119 domestic violence-related homicides. A significant majority of domestic violence homicides involve firearms, and last year, 77 percent of domestic violence homicides were gun-related – up 10 percent from 2022.
“Addressing the deadly intersections of gun violence and domestic violence is critical to making our communities safer,” said Samantha Koch, Interim Director of PCCD’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention. “This gathering signifies an important step by the Shapiro-Davis Administration to provide a platform for survivors, advocates, and community members to share their experiences and insights and shape strategies to protect and support survivors and prevent future tragedies.”
Key topics of discussion from the listening session included local trends, needs and challenges, policies, programs, and resources that are working, and implementation of recently enacted protections through Act 79 of 2018 to increase victim/survivor safety. Takeaways from the listening tour will drive the work of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention as well as inform Pennsylvania's federal FY 2024 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Funding Plan. Community stakeholders are encouraged to complete PCCD’s Stakeholder Feedback Survey to share their thoughts related to ideas about policies, programs, and how funding should be used to help reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania.
PCADV has long been a voice for survivors and advocates, including in the passage of Act 79, and we are proud to continue that work today with the PCCD's Office of Gun Violence Prevention,” said Susan Higginbotham, Chief Executive Officer of PCADV. “Conversations like these are necessary to ensure survivors' needs are centered.”
During the listening session, PCCD also announced a new report analyzing weapons relinquishments in Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders in Pennsylvania. In 2018, Pennsylvania enacted Act 79, landmark bipartisan legislation establishing new weapons relinquishment requirements for individuals subject to final PFA orders and misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. The analysis offers valuable insights into the growth of PFA final orders and the impact of Act 79 of 2018
“Findings from this report analyze the role of weapon relinquishment in Pennsylvania’s efforts to protect and support individuals and families experiencing domestic violence,” said Kathy Buckley, Director of the Office of Victims’ Services at PCCD. “The steady rise in PFA cases with surrender orders highlights both the need for these protections and the critical role of the justice system to carry them out. Our commitment to analyzing the impacts of Act 79 is about more than determining compliance—it’s about understanding how these protections can help save lives.”
Pennsylvania has made significant investments in public safety across the state in recent years. In addition to homicides decreasing by 16 percent across Pennsylvania in 2023—compared to 12 percent nationally— 29 out of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties saw declines in homicides. Additionally, Philadelphia’s homicides decreased 23 percent in 2023 compared to the prior year and are down 40 percent so far in 2024.
While progress has been made, too many Pennsylvanians are still impacted by gun violence – domestic violence homicides statewide increased in 2023, firearm-related injuries remain the leading cause of death for children, and Pennsylvania’s firearm fatality rate is significantly higher than surrounding states. To address this issue, Governor Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-02 on September 9, re-establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention within PCCD.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ali Gantz - algantz@pa.gov
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