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Following Troubling Public Safety Trends Involving Youth, Governor Announces New $2.5 Million Investment To Create Youth Diversion Programs
$2 Million in Second-Year Project RISE Funding To Support Community-Based Organizations Addressing Neighborhood Violence
Record $3.2 Million Law Enforcement Investment for Onondaga County Included in Statewide Gun Violence Elimination Initiative
Governor Continues Record Funding for Local Police Through Additional $3.2 Million Investment in Onondaga County Law Enforcement Agencies
Governor Kathy Hochul on Nov 1st, highlighted $23.5 million in state public safety investments in the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County for law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations, including $2.5 million in new funding to establish diversion programs to strengthen services and connect justice-involved young people with education and employment opportunities. At the same time, Governor Hochul detailed the state’s record-level, $3.2 million investment through the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, $3.2 million in technology and equipment funding for county law enforcement agencies, and $2 million in second-year funding through Project RISE to support community-based organizations addressing the impact of gun violence and providing youth opportunities.
“Public safety is my number one priority, and we are doubling down our efforts to keep residents of Syracuse and Onondaga County safe by giving more support to law enforcement, bolstering gun violence prevention initiatives and expanding youth diversion programs,” Governor Hochul said. “By utilizing a multi-pronged approach centered around local needs, we are working to rein in criminal activity and create safer neighborhoods and communities.”
After meeting with local elected and community leaders, Governor Hochul detailed the state’s investment in the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County, administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). They then identified solutions to address a spike in property crime involving teenagers that is driving an overall increase in crime in Syracuse through the first nine months of the year as compared to the same time in 2023.
The City of Syracuse will receive $1.5 million in new funding to establish a new program dedicated to providing justice-system involved youth with structured classes to develop skills, support to navigate the education and justice systems, and internships and other resources with the goal of avoiding further criminal justice system involvement.
In addition, Governor Hochul will dedicate an additional $1 million to enhance youth justice alternatives and diversion programs and services within the Onondaga County Probation Department. This investment will be paired with dedicated technical assistance from DCJS to help build the capacity of local government and community-based organizations to intervene in the lives of these young people, change their thinking and behavior, and promote positive development.
Public safety is my number one priority, and we are doubling down our efforts to keep residents of Syracuse and Onondaga County safe by giving more support to law enforcement, bolstering gun violence prevention initiatives and expanding youth diversion programs."
Governor Kathy Hochul
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “We have made tremendous progress in driving down gun violence and violent crime in New York State, but communities across the state each have their own unique challenges. Governor Hochul has made it a priority to ensure that DCJS has a record amount of resources available to help our local law enforcement and community partners develop comprehensive strategies and programs to address community-specific spikes in crime rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. We create stronger, safer neighborhoods by listening to, learning from, and investing in our local partners.”
These two new investments are integral to Governor Hochul’s comprehensive plan to improve public safety, address spikes in crime and further drive down gun violence by recognizing the importance of a multifaceted approach to the problem. By engaging, supporting and funding local law enforcement agencies and community partners; leveraging technology and data; and implementing evidence-based strategies, the state can help localities address their unique crime problems while healing and strengthening neighborhoods and families.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The New York State Police is committed to assisting our law enforcement partners in fighting against the widespread criminality in Syracuse and Onondaga County. I appreciate Governor Hochul’s leadership on this public safety mission, and for providing the necessary resources to reduce crime and gun violence to build safer communities.”
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, “Syracuse can’t do this work alone; our community must collaborate to address issues of juveniles involved in the Justice system. We’re focused on the balance of holding people accountable, but recognizing that young people need greater support. Diversionary and intervention programs are critical to providing support, giving our youth access to the resources they need, and providing them the skills to be successful in life. Once again, when we’ve asked Governor Hochul to provide assistance for our community, she’s delivered, and I thank her for her attention to the needs of Syracuse.”
These initiatives in the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County include:
Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower): $2 million to 11 community-based organizations in Syracuse that provide mental health services, crisis intervention, mentoring, and vocational training and employment, financial literacy, and conflict resolution, among other services to youth and families at risk or impacted by violence. This is the second year that Syracuse has received funding through the initiative, which engages with community stakeholders to identify and support smaller, grassroots organizations doing life-changing work that haven’t had the administrative capacity to receive state funding. Project RISE will fund three lead organizations – the Center for Community Alternatives and Hillside Children’s Center ($500,000 each) and On Point for College ($1 million) – that will share that funding with eight smaller organizations: Rise Above Poverty, Image Initiative, Fearless Queens, Project SAVE, Diversify NY, Half Hood Half Holistic, Good Life Youth Foundation and Klink Kids.
Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative and the Central New York Crime Analysis Center: $3.2 million to the Onondaga County GIVE partners, the Syracuse Police Department and county district attorney’s office, probation department, and sheriff’s office, and $1.1 million to support the Crime Analysis Center, one of 11 in network funded and supported by the state in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.
The Syracuse Police Department is one of 28 departments in 21 counties receiving nearly $36 million through GIVE, which requires agencies to use evidence-based strategies to reduce shootings and other violent crime. Last year alone, staff at the Central New York Crime Analysis Center provided investigative support in real-time and handled 12,443 service requests, providing data, information and investigative leads that allowed law enforcement to solve homicides, car and retail theft rings, and remove illegal guns from county streets. All told, the state invests $18 million to support the Crime Analysis Center Network.
These investments are producing results: Shooting incidents involving injury in Syracuse declined 29 percent when comparing the first nine months of 2024 to the same time last year, and 44 percent when compared to the five-year average (2019-2024). Violent crime in Syracuse decreased 5 percent from January – August 2024, as compared to the same eight months last year; this is the most recent data available.
SNUG Street Outreach Program: Nearly $2.3 million to Syracuse Community Connections, and Upstate Medical Center to fund outreach workers, hospital responders, social workers and case managers who are credible messengers and work to reduce shootings and save lives. SNUG uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence. Syracuse is one of 14 communities across the state to participate in the program. The state’s investment in SNUG totals $20.3 million this year.
Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment (LETECH): Nearly $3.2 million to14 police agencies in Onondaga County for new technology and equipment to prevent and solve crimes and improve public safety. This funding supports a variety of equipment and technology, such as license plate readers, mobile and fixed camera systems, computer-aided dispatch systems, software, unmanned aerial vehicles, gunshot detection devices and smart equipment for patrol vehicles and police officers.
Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Violence (STRIVE) initiative: Nearly $1.9 million to Onondaga County. New York City and Onondaga and 19 other counties outside of the five boroughs are sharing a record-level, $35 million to strengthen the public safety response to intimate partner abuse and domestic violence and better support survivors. Modeled after GIVE, STRIVE requires law enforcement and community partners in each county to use evidence-based strategies and ensure that community members and programs that serve victims and survivors are actively involved in strategy selection and implementation. One or more of the following strategies must be used: domestic violence high-risk team model, lethality assessment program, or intimate partner violence intervention.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the State’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; and managing criminal justice grant funding. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram and X.