Gun Violence Prevention

The mission of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) is to build a statewide comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable approach to preventing gun violence through the creation of equity with community-led, place-based prevention strategies and approaches. 

OGVP is part of a larger violence prevention ecosystem that employs a multidisciplinary approach by working with agency partners across the state, including the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Office of Victim Services. With a focus on historically under-resourced NYS communities that experience the highest rates of gun violence, OGVP seeks to address root causes and contribute to the prevention and elimination of gun violence.

Our Priorities

Coordinate Government and Communities: Advance a unified place-based gun violence prevention approach by bringing together government and communities to remove barriers that drive health inequities, including gun violence

Invest in Communities: Build capacity of community partners, and create and support local, safe spaces within neighborhoods experiencing highest rates of poverty and violence for youth to gather and engage in focused, recreational opportunities.

Build Public Awareness: Use data and storytelling to change public awareness of gun violence and enhance the public narrative on gun violence.

Enhance Health Systems Capacity: Create sustainable hospital-based intervention programming (HVIP) and invest in a statewide shift to a primary prevention model within the health care system across New York State.

Strengthen Data Infrastructure: Strengthen data systems to support ongoing data-informed surveillance, prevention, and intervention of gun violence statewide.

Safe Storage

OGVP partners with local law enforcement agencies to distribute free gun locks and safe storage information on a rolling basis. 

End Family Fire

In partnership with the Ad Council and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, OGVP is administering a digital awareness campaign to educate New Yorkers about ways to prevent the misuse of firearms.

H.O.P.E. NY

Havens of Opportunity, Peace and Empowerment in Communities Experiencing High Rates of Gun Violence

This new initiative will develop or expand programming in centralized, trusted neighborhood havens in New York City communities most impacted by gun violence, providing safe and supportive spaces for everyone, prioritizing youth up to the age of 24, during high-risk evening hours (5–9 p.m.) and weekends. 

These neighborhood-based havens will serve as safe spaces where the community, and especially young people, can access the appropriate supports, build positive relationships, and develop skills, ultimately helping to interrupt cycles of violence and promote youth well-being.

Firearm Injury & Mortality Prevention (FIMP)

A pilot program launched in partnership with Northwell Health's Center for Gun Violence Prevention to bring a simple screening to healthcare settings to assess a patient's risk for gun violence. Patients can received personalized resources and referrals to help reduce their risk.

DCJS collects shooting data reported by Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) communities across New York State.

View Gun Violence Data

Questions and comments: [email protected]