Marshall, Cardin Lead Senate Effort to End Cyclical Violence and Protect Crime Victims

(Washington, D.C., July 23, 2021) – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.)introduced legislation to expand hospital-based violence intervention services and prevention programs for survivors of violent crimes. The Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act (S. 2422) will help establish and expand such programs nationwide and ensure health and trauma professionals are delivering the care that survivors need in the aftermath of violence. Similar legislation, led by Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-2) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.-16), passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in May.

“As the son of a police chief and as a physician working in a full-service hospital, I can attest to the issue of cyclical violence,” said Senator Marshall. “Law enforcement and health care providers see two sides of the same coin, and we must work together to develop practices that will decrease re-hospitalization as a result of crime. Our bipartisan legislation would help enable hospitals to coordinate better and develop best practices in prevention and intervention across the country.”

“We can break the cycle of violence so that recovering victims of violent crimes do not become victims again and again,” said Senator Cardin. “Violence intervention programs work. They have a proven track record of reducing violent crime, recidivism, hospitalizations and making our communities safer. Expanding federal investment in intervention and prevention will make a lasting difference in cities like Baltimore City across the country.”

The Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, American College of Surgeons, American Hospital Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Association of School Resource Officers, National League of Cities, Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, National District Attorneys Association and Cure Violence.

Additional Information:

Hospital-based violence intervention programs provide services for victims of violent crime while they are recovering from their injuries to reduce the likelihood that they commit gun violence or are victimized in the future. These programs are proven to be among the most effective strategies for reducing gun violence.

The Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act establishes a federal grant program under the Department of Health and Human Services to help states create or expand hospital-based violence intervention or prevention programs and study the effectiveness of these programs to determine best practices. Grants will be awarded from $250,000 to $500,000 per grantee, over a three-year period.

Click HERE for a one-page summary of S. 2422.

Click HERE to read the bill text.

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