Senate Judiciary sends community violence intervention grant bill to Ways and Means after hours of testimony

The Senate Committee on Judiciary voted Tuesday to advance Senate Bill 1015, a measure directing the Oregon Department of Justice to establish a grant program to fund community violence intervention efforts and to set eligibility and oversight criteria for awards.

Advocates, survivors and service providers told the committee the programs reduce shootings and other violence when funded and sustained. “This term may be newer, but what it is, intervening before violence occurs or working to support those who've been affected to keep them out of the cycle of violence has been around and unfunded,” said Ajeneek Savage, a community member who described losing family members to gun violence.

The bill would define community violence for grant purposes, require the DOJ to create an oversight board that includes survivors and researchers, and require grantees to report annually on use of funds…