Wisconsin looks to continue trend of decreasing deaths and injuries related to crime and suicide

Wisconsin is launching its first statewide injury and violence prevention plan in more than a decade.

Governor Tony Evers and the state Department of Health Services announced the five-year plan this week. It focuses on five areas identified as priorities by Wisconsin residents: child abuse and maltreatment, intimate partner violence, intentional firearm injuries, unintentional drug overdoses, and self-harm and suicide.

State officials say Wisconsin has seen progress in reducing violent deaths.

Since 2022, homicides have declined by 19 percent statewide, including a 25-percent drop in firearm homicides.

Overall firearm deaths also declined by 11 percent in 2023 and 2024, compared with an eight-percent decline nationwide.

However, officials say intimate partner violence remains a significant concern. In 2023, it was a contributing factor in at least half of homicide deaths involving women in Wisconsin.

The Evers administration says it has invested 15 million dollars in violence prevention grants, funding 73 grants involving schools, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, firearms dealers and government agencies.

State officials say the new plan is intended to bring those efforts together and provide a roadmap for reducing injuries, violence and preventable deaths across Wisconsin.