Department of Gun Violence Reduction

Mayor Brandon Johnson supports creating a stand-alone Chicago Department of Gun Violence Reduction following a violent Juneteenth weekend that left eight dead and 40 injured. The proposal, backed by community leaders, aims to consolidate city efforts into a $100 million annual budget department, despite financial challenges including a $1.3 billion budget shortfall and $36 billion pension crisis.

Local leaders and advocates are advocating for a new Department of Gun Violence Reduction with a $100 million budget, replacing the existing Office of Community Safety. The proposal aims to coordinate violence prevention efforts with housing, jobs, and youth programs, using existing public safety funds across city departments.