Gov. Tony Evers To Commit $45 Million To WI Violence Prevention

MILWAUKEE, WI — Gov. Tony Evers announced a $45 million investment Wednesday in violence prevention and support for crime victims.

The money would be split among two of the following programs.

• $25 million would go to violence prevention efforts such as statewide research initiatives and community-based efforts.
• $20 million would go to victim services in order to help providers meet increased demand.

The investment was made from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds given to the state, the governor's office said. It would build on Evers' previous investments in mental and physical health care and education.

About $6.6 million of the violence prevention funds would go to the Medical College of Wisconsin's violence prevention project to support research and data collection around violence prevention as a public health issue, the governor's office said. The violence prevention project will also receive $10.4 million to create a grant to support violence prevention efforts across the state.

Some $8 million will go to the City of Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention to fund projects that respond to violence and trauma related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor's office said. The office partners with local governments and nonprofit, neighborhood and faith organizations in Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice will administer a $20 million grant for victim services in Wisconsin, the governor's office said. Victim service programs across the state have reported an increase in demand for services because of the coronavirus pandemic, and federal funds for such services have declined.

Some $100,000 will go to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, which is the only statewide membership, training and technical assistance agency for sexual assault service providers in the state, the governor's office said.

“We’re working to build the future we want for our kids and our state, and that means working to address the cycle of violence and crime to ensure safe schools, safe streets and safe communities,” Evers said.

“This is another public health crisis that needs our attention and action, and like any public health issue, it starts with prevention. Violence and its effects on kids, families and communities are not inevitable. We have to focus on the root causes and invest in interventions and community-based solutions, and we have to make sure the trusted folks and organizations who are already doing this work are at the center of this process.”