Travis County District Attorney José Garza, Travis County Leaders, and Community Partners Update the Community on “Safer Travis County” Resolution Initiatives
Key Resolution Items are Meeting the Needs of Victims & Reducing Violence
Travis County, TX — Last week, Travis County District Attorney José Garza, along with leaders from Travis County and the City of Austin, as well as safety leaders and community partners, updated our community on our collaborative efforts to implement a comprehensive countywide gun violence reduction ecosystem. In November 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved the “Safer Travis County” Resolution to reduce the number of gun violence deaths in our community by forming initiatives focused on prevention, intervention, and accountability.
Key items approved in the resolution included implementing a Hospital-based Violence Prevention Program (HVIP) to meet the needs of victims of violence and a Prosecutor-led Gun Violence Prevention Program, which disrupts cycles of violence by directing people at risk of committing acts of gun violence with skills aimed at reducing their likelihood of future firearm-related incidents.
Our office collaborated under the leadership of Judge Andy Brown and Commissioner Jeff Travillion, along with partners from across the country, to propose the most effective public health approach to preventing gun violence for Travis County.
“We are grateful for our partnerships and initiatives established by the ‘Safer Travis County’ Resolution, which are making a lasting positive impact in preventing future gun violence in Travis County, ” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “Together, we are tirelessly working to support victims of violent crime, implement strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence, and keep our community safe.”
“Alongside our partners, we designed the Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program to build a gun violence prevention ecosystem by not only providing world-class medical care in the hospital, but to connect survivors with community-based support services across Travis County”, said Travis County Judge Andy Brown.
“Gun violence is an issue that touches many communities in Travis County,” said Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion. “We are already seeing real progress through the programs launched under this initiative, and we are committed to continuing to reduce gun violence and actively building more constructive opportunities for our community members.”
In September 2024, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a contract with Ascension Seton to pilot a Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program to address the needs of violence victims, connect survivors with supportive services, and intervene in crisis situations to prevent future incidents. In October 2024, Ascension Seton launched and established social work offices at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas and at Dell Children’s Medical Center, where staff connect victims of violence with community partners specializing in mental health, substance abuse stabilization, shelter, food, financial resources, legal advocacy, and employment assistance.
“Our HVIP pilot programs launched at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas and Dell Children’s Medical Center in October 2024, and have served more than 350 people, with fifteen percent of those cases caused by gun violence,” said Laura Fohn, president of Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas. “The pilot programs are located at the only Level I trauma centers for adults and children in Austin. These programs navigate the challenges patients face, specifically addressing social determinants of health such as social support networks, community safety, and economic disparities, by leveraging our collaboration with many partners in the community.”
“We must be proactive—not reactive—to crime, and the issues that follow it,” said Austin City Council Member José Velásquez. “The Hospital-based Violence Prevention program is a perfect example of how we’re accomplishing that. With the current uncertainty surrounding federal funding cuts, it’s incredibly important that we highlight the real progress we’ve made towards reducing crime and recidivism. It’s essential that we continue to work together to prioritize this program and other Community Violence Intervention programs because they save lives—they’re making Austin safer.”
Another key initiative of the resolution included a Prosecutor-Led Gun Violence Prevention Program that directs those at high risk of committing acts of gun violence to violence prevention programs. Tailored for those classified as either low risk or moderate/high risk, the program focuses on fostering behavioral change through targeted interventions and support, promoting community safety and personal development. In December 2024, the Travis County Commissioners approved a contract for the Prosecutor-led Gun Violence Prevention Program.
During the press conference, our elected leaders recognized the Austin Police Department and our other law enforcement partners, who put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our community safe, prevent gun violence, and hold people accountable who commit acts of gun violence. They also thanked our city leaders for their support and the City of Austin’s Office of Violence Prevention, which has been a critical component of the overall gun violence reduction ecosystem.
According to APD Crime Statistics, the city of Austin has experienced a decrease in homicides, dropping from 88 in 2021 to 71 in 2024.
Finally, our elected officials thanked our community advocates and partners who, throughout this journey, have contributed to and supported the comprehensive countywide gun violence reduction ecosystem. They are the front-line workers connecting our community to life-saving resources and our programs.
“We must take an ecosystem’s approach,” said Sherwynn Patton from Life A New / ATX Peace. “People’s lives depend on our collaborative actions”.
Travis County District Attorney José Garza concluded the press conference by emphasizing the importance of system partners continuing to collaborate closely with our community to ensure that Austin and Travis County remain the safest communities in the state and across the nation.
After the press conference, the speakers and guests toured the newly implemented HVIP program at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, which is already saving lives and ensuring our community’s safety.
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