Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Gun Violence DCJS topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DCJS highlights gun‑violence programs, crime‑analysis centers; governor proposes subway surge funding
Summary
DCJS deputy commissioner Joe Popkin said the agency—s mix of analysis, enforcement and outreach has driven declines in shootings in recent years and asked legislators to support expanded analytics and community violence programs.
Joe Popkin, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, summarized the agency’s recent work on public safety and crime reduction at the public protection hearing.
Popkin credited multi‑pronged state strategies with declines in shootings and other violent crime across many counties. "By cutting gun violence nearly in half throughout the entire state, there were 1,333 fewer people shot and 251 fewer lives lost in 2024 compared to where we were just 3 years ago," he said, citing outcomes in GIVE (gun‑involved violence elimination) jurisdictions.
DCJS described core initiatives that the governor’s executive budget would expand: enhanced analytics and intelligence sharing through the Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC), grants for law enforcement technology and equipment, expanded funding for street outreach and community violence intervention (SNUG), and a $77 million state contribution to a city‑state subway safety plan that pairs state funding with a city match.
Why this matters: DCJS investments aim to combine law enforcement tools (crime analysis, gun task force work, interstate gun interdiction) with public‑health oriented prevention (SNUG outreach) to reduce shootings and address root causes.
DCJS emphasized its crime analysis centers, which it said support investigators by stitching together patterns across jurisdictions and providing real‑time investigative leads. Popkin described how a regional analysis helped detect an organized retail theft ring moving merchandise across counties, enabling coordinated enforcement.
DCJS officials also pledged to continue broad support for local partners, deliver training and fund equipment, and expand cybersecurity and counterterrorism capacity within the state police. Popkin said the expanded funding would also support community violence prevention grants and additional law enforcement technology requests from dozens of local agencies.
What comes next: Lawmakers will weigh the proposed increases in JSOC and other DCJS programs during final budget negotiations, including the $77 million subway safety contribution that requires a city match. Advocates and local leaders are likely to press for both prevention resources and better accountability measures on policing strategies.
