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Solutions

Violence Intervention Programs

    Violence Intervention Programs

      What is the problem?

      Violence intervention programs provide evidence and community-informed, comprehensive support to individuals who are at greatest risk of gunshot victimization. These programs are shown to reduce gunshot wounds 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.

      Which states dedicate funding to violence intervention programs?

      39 states have adopted this policy

      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Alabama has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Alaska has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Arizona has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Arkansas has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      California has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Colorado has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Connecticut has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Delaware has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Florida has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Georgia has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Hawaii has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Idaho has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Illinois has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Indiana has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Iowa has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Kansas has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Kentucky has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Louisiana has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Maine has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Maryland has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Massachusetts has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Michigan has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Minnesota has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Mississippi has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Missouri has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Montana has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Nebraska has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Nevada has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      New Jersey has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      New Mexico has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      New York has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      North Carolina has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      North Dakota has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Ohio has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Oregon has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Rhode Island has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      South Carolina has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      South Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Tennessee has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Texas has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Utah has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Vermont has not adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Virginia has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Washington has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      West Virginia has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Wisconsin has adopted this policy

      Violence Intervention Program Funding

      Wyoming has adopted this policy

      How it Works

      Community-based violence intervention programs apply a localized approach to gun violence prevention.

      The Impact of Local Violence Intervention Programs Fact Sheet

      Violence intervention programs identify those who are at the highest risk and work to reduce violence through targeted interventions. There are several program models being used across the country.

      Street Outreach: This program model employs a public health approach to fight violence. The program has street outreach workers who actively work to mediate conflicts and prevent retaliatory violence between those who are at-risk to commit or become the victims of gun violence.

      Group Violence Intervention (GVI) programs: This program model utilizes the call-in, a meeting where members of violent groups hear from law enforcement, social service organizations, and community members that the violence must stop. Law enforcement brings a strong message that if violence continues, the perpetrators will be caught and face harsh consequences. Individuals seeking help are connected to social services, including counseling, education programs, and employment opportunities.

      Hospital-Based Violence Intervention programs (HVIPs): These programs are located in trauma centers and emergency departments. They engage patients while they are still in the hospital, often just hours after a violent injury, to reduce the chance of retaliation and violent injury recurrence. They are based in the premise that there is a unique window of opportunity to engage victims of violence in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic injury.

      By the numbers

      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.

      Featured Resources

      Violence Intervention Programs

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      Did you know?

      In 2015, half of all U.S. gun homicides took place in just 127 cities containing less than 25 percent of the country’s population.

      Aufrichtig A, Beckett L, Diehm J, Lartey J. “Want to fix gun violence in America? Go local”. The Guardian. (2017). https://bit.ly/2i6kaKw.