Violence Intervention Programs
Violence Intervention Programs
What is the problem?
Violence intervention programs provide comprehensive support to individuals who are at greatest risk of gunshot victimization. These programs are shown to reduce gunshot woundings and deaths in the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence.
Gun homicides and assaults occur at high rates within cities, and have a disproportionate impact in historically underfunded neighborhoods within our cities. Gun violence in cities reflects and amplifies this country’s long-standing systemic and structural inequities.
City leaders, local groups, and residents are driving solutions to reduce gun violence and increase safety in their communities. To reduce gun homicides and assaults within cities, leaders and legislators should invest in community-driven, evidence-based interventions.
Myth & Fact
Myth
Most violence in cities is gang-related.
Fact
In reality, although some gun violence is connected to gang activity, gun violence occurs more frequently within informal social networks tied together by the places people live, the schools they attend, and their places of worship. Gun violence within these social networks is further concentrated into a very small percentage of people. This gun violence frequently occurs spontaneously, following a dispute or perceived disrespect, and between people who are known to one other. These encounters become deadly because a gun is present.
All Resources
Violence Intervention Programs
All Resources
A Deadly Year in Cities — And How Policymakers Can Respond
The surge in gun homicides is an upward trend that is being felt in communities across the nation.
Fact Sheet
Methodological Note: A More Complete Picture
Read the Report A More Complete Picture: The Contours of Gun Injury in the United States Report…
Methodological NoteA More Complete Picture: The Contours of Gun Injury in the United States
Nonfatal gunshot wounds account for an enormous portion of the gun violence epidemic in America.
Report
Community-led Public Safety Strategies
Strategies Street outreach programs employ a public health approach to violence intervention, beginning with the premise that gun violence is like a contagious disease, the…
Fact SheetCity Gun Violence Reduction Insight Portal
CityGRIP is an online clearinghouse of data-informed gun violence reduction strategies.
Report
The Impact of Local Violence Intervention Programs
There are nearly 13,000 gun homicides in the U.S. every year There are nearly 13,000 gun homicides in the U.S. every year.1…
Fact Sheet
Five Ways to Enhance the Gun Violence Prevention Strategy in Your City
Cities that have sustained success preventing gun violence have deployed multi-disciplinary, community-involved approaches to response and prevention. Below are five steps that you can take…
Fact Sheet