FFY22-23 Maryland's Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (BSCI)

Maryland coordinates with federal, state, and local partners to effectively and efficiently reduce and prevent crime, and enhance public safety for all residents and visitors. Many efforts address firearm violence through funding initiatives, including evidence-based public health approaches, investigation and prosecutorial partnerships that combat criminal gang enterprises and remove violent offenders from the street, and intervention programs that divert individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges or crises from incarceration. Despite these ongoing efforts and recent commitments to gun crime prevention and reduction, Maryland continues to experience high levels of firearm violence. Based on data obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maryland witnessed a total of 3,924 firearm fatalities between 2017 and 2021, with an incremental increase in firearm deaths each year. Firearm violence is not siloed, nor should the efforts to reduce, prevent, and intervene. Although Maryland has made great strides in addressing firearm violence, much work is needed to ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike. 

For this reason, the Maryland Byrne Advisory Board (Board), with support from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (Office), approved the FY 2022 - 2023 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funding for programs and initiatives that support the ongoing utilization of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) in Maryland. Funding will support creating Regional and Local ERPO Liaison Programs (sites) to identify challenges to ERPO implementation in their communities, connect individuals to crisis services and social supports, and accommodate regional or local needs by bridging gaps through regular multi-disciplinary meetings. Maryland will also support other efforts in developing and implementing initiatives that reduce barriers to filing ERPOs and engaging in the court process. 

To ensure the success of the funding, the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center (MSAC) will collaborate with the Board to develop performance indicators to measure the successful implementation of funds and project impact on their respective communities throughout Maryland. In this role, MSAC will support action-oriented research and evaluation of all selected sites, which is expected to contribute to the national body of knowledge relating to best practices. The expected outcomes will also reduce firearm violence by preventing the possession of firearms and ammunition by temporarily prohibiting firearm purchases and removing them from individuals who are at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, thus improving the safety of Maryland communities.