Faced with an increase in nonfatal shootings in Philadelphia, the First Judicial District has begun implementing a program aimed at addressing these types of cases in a more efficient and urgent fashion.

The court announced Monday the launch of a collaborative effort between the FJD, the Philadelphia district attorney and Defender Association of Philadelphia to address nonfatal shootings. The program, according to the announcement, involves dedicating a courtroom to nonfatal shooting cases, holding preliminary hearings within weeks of the preliminary arraignment, and having Municipal Court judges who normally oversee homicide preliminary hearings oversee the cases.