Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced today the launch of a five-year strategic plan to reduce injuries and violence in the state.
The plan prioritizes work on five areas: child maltreatment and abuse; intimate partner assault; intentional firearm injuries; unintentional drug overdoses; self-harm and suicide.
State officials say the plan charts a path for coordinated efforts to increase safety.
“Every day, organizations and individuals work to protect against hazards that cause injury, harm or death,” said Paula Tran, state health officer and administrator of the Division of Public Health, in a statement.
Tran said in addition to state-level efforts, schools, law enforcement agencies and nonprofits are among the collaborators working to keep communities safer.
Violence down in Wisconsin
According to state officials, violent deaths are down in Wisconsin, mainly due to a drop in homicides. A statement announcing the new plan said there was a 25% decline in firearm homicides since 2022 and an 11% decrease in overall firearm deaths over 2023 and 2024.
In Milwaukee, homicides increased by 7% from 2024 to 2025, according to publicly available data from the Milwaukee Police Department. This year, homicides through Aug. 24 are down 25% compared to the same time period last year.
But, Evers said, “there’s always more work we can do to reduce crime and violence and help make kids, families and communities across Wisconsin safer.”
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
