CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and Juvenile Courts is receiving $2 million in federal funding for the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) Alliance, according to an announcement from Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown, D-District 11.

What You Need To Know

  • The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and Juvenile Courts is receiving $2 million in federal funding for the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) Alliance

  • This was announced by Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown, D-District 11

  • The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) awarded the grant
  • The press release from Brown’s office states funding was supported via the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) awarded the grant. The press release from Brown’s office states funding was supported via the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

“I am proud to announce federal funding has been awarded to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to expand the innovative and impactful Violence Intervention Program Alliance,” Brown said in the release. “This grant is another win for Northeast Ohio made possible by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. As we combat gun violence, it is imperative that we take measures that deescalate, intervene in, and prevent crime. The funding will help expand the VIP Alliance to close gaps and provide resources for young people at risk so we can stop crimes before they happen. Congratulations to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas on receiving this competitive award.”

According to its website, the Violence Intervention Program helps people arrested with a weapon who did not use it in the crime. It aims “to prevent felony offenders with gun-related specifications from becoming a gun-violence or even homicide-related statistic.”

The press release also included a statement from Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan J. Sheehan of the court’s general division and Administrative Judge Thomas F. O’Malley of the juvenile court.

In the statement, they expressed their pride in receiving the grant and noted that it will allow them to “expand” work on the program.

“Criminal gun activity is a challenge that is very important to both courts, as we see the impact it has on our community every day,” the statement reads. “This grant will allow us to examine how trauma impacts a young person’s decision-making related to guns and gun violence, to provide intensive interventions to young offenders through a multidisciplinary approach while reducing risk factors that contribute to gun activity, and to address critical gaps within our system. We thank Representative Shontel Brown for her continued support of the individuals in our community and the work of the Courts.”

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