Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP)
Background
In June 2022, the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 was enacted. The law included a number of provisions designed to address gun violence and improve responses to behavioral health crises, as well as authorized new funding streams. The Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) was among those funding streams.
As authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, SCIP provides formula funds to implement state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives. More information about SCIP funding is available on the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) website here.
SCIP is a formula-based program administered by state administering agencies (PCCD serves in this role for the Commonwealth); Pennsylvania's allocation for FY 2022-2023 is $8,548,557.
Accordion
Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionOn June 13, 2023, the Commission voted to approve the 2022-2023 State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) Funding Plan, which was submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for review and approval (required before PCCD can issue any solicitations or commit any SCIP funding). On August 28, 2023, BJA approved Pennsylvania's FY 2022-23 Byrne SCIP Funding Plan.
Resources for Gun Violence Victims Needs Assessment & Technical Assistance Initiative
On September 18, 2023, PCCD announced the availability of up to $1 million in federal SCIP funds to support a new "Resources for Gun Violence Victims Needs Assessment & Technical Assistance Initiative." You can learn more about this initiative here. A copy of the funding announcement and related Q&A guidance is available here.
As the state administering agency for Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) submitted an application to BJA for federal SCIP funds in December 2022. PCCD's FY 2022-2023 application was approved by BJA in February 2023.
Under SCIP, states must form (or identify an existing group) to serve as a diverse Crisis Intervention Advisory Board to inform and guide the state's related gun violence reduction programs/initiatives. The Board must include, but is not limited to, representatives from law enforcement, the community, courts, prosecution, behavioral health providers, victim services, and legal counsel.
Program and budget plans must be developed in coordination with and demonstrate evidence of approval by each state's Crisis Intervention Advisory Board.
In Pennsylvania's FY 2022-2023 SCIP application, PCCD's Commission was identified as the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board given its composition and structure. PCCD anticipates presenting a Program and Budget Plan for the Commission's consideration at its June 2023 quarterly meeting.
SCIP Stakeholder Feedback Survey
In order to obtain stakeholder input on issues related to gun violence, behavioral health, and crisis response, PCCD developed the Pennsylvania 2022-23 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program - Stakeholder Feedback Survey. PCCD intends to use the aggregate results of this survey to inform the work of the SCIP Advisory Board as they develop a program funding plan for use of SCIP funds. The survey closed on Friday, May 5, 2023:
Resources
Contact Information
For information about SCIP, please contact PCCD staff at RA-PCCD_ExecutiveOfc@pa.gov.