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Violence Intervention Programs

Solutions

Violence Intervention Programs

What does it solve?

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 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 must invest in community-driven, evidence-based interventions.

Funding for Violence Intervention Programs

Which states dedicate funding to violence intervention programs?

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 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 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

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.

How it works

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

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 and offer subsequent case work and services in areas such as mental health counseling, financial and educational support, and more. They are based on 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

Survivor Story

Stories

How Everytown’s Community Safety Fund Grantees Prevent Gun Violence

The Everytown Community Safety Fund is excited to support the local, community-based violence intervention programs that have been proven to work—with funding, peer convenings, capacity building, and advocacy support. Violence intervention programs provide community-informed, comprehensive support to people who are most at risk of gun violence and are shown to reduce gunshot… Continue

Victories

You might be wondering…

  1. 1 Are cities inherently dangerous?