Institute for Nonviolence Chicago’s Post

We're proud to announce the establishment of the Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI)—a cutting-edge research center within the Department of Criminal Justice focused on addressing violent crime through data-driven solutions. Led by Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt, former police officer and head of Criminal Justice, the VRI bridges academic research with real-world impact. Early collaborations with the Chattanooga Police Department have already achieved remarkable results: ✅ 27% decrease in firearm homicides ✅ 36% drop in overall homicides ✅ 42% reduction in shooting victims VRI initiatives are already making strides through federally funded programs, including: 👉 Recidivism Reduction Initiative (RRI): A $844K grant to reduce recidivism through evidence-based supervision strategies in Hamilton County. 👉 Chattanooga United to Reduce Violence (CURV): A nearly $2M grant supporting community-based solutions to gun violence, including trauma-informed care, structured youth activities, and violence interrupters. This initiative exemplifies UTC’s commitment to fostering community partnerships and tackling critical public safety challenges through innovative research. Learn more about how the VRI is making Chattanooga and beyond safer for all. 🔗: https://lnkd.in/dyXuSx-H

Attention all youth justice practitioners, community service providers, and youth advocates!! On May 15th, we’re hosting a webinar on gun violence reduction, with a specific focus on violence intervention and interruption. Visit the link below to register for the webinar and learn more about the role you can play in reducing gun violence.

We are thrilled to share the release of “The San Francisco Violence Reduction Initiative: A Case Study in the Complexity of Reducing Community Gun Violence.” This comprehensive report highlights years of collaborative efforts to implement an evidence-based approach to reduce gun violence in San Francisco’s District 10—an area disproportionately impacted by this issue. Key findings include: *A 50% reduction in homicides and nonfatal shootings in District 10 during 2022–2023 compared to other parts of the city. *Insights into the critical roles of sustained political support, community trust, and a strong intervention infrastructure. *Practical lessons for policymakers, practitioners, and communities seeking sustainable solutions to violence. We invite you to explore the full case study and its findings here: https://lnkd.in/gPp4sKwy

At a critical moment for public safety in America, we face a choice: dismantle promising violence prevention programs or build on their success. My new op-ed examines how Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs have evolved from scattered initiatives into a professional infrastructure of hope. But this progress stands at risk. With key federal funding expiring and potential policy shifts ahead, we could lose years of progress in building safer communities. Read more about why this matters for the future of public safety in America: https://lnkd.in/gEr39kux This piece draws from our research at The Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science at Northwestern University #PublicSafety #GunViolencePrevention #CVI

“Gun violence isn't just a public safety crisis or a public health epidemic; it's a fiscal emergency. [CVI] isn't just smart policy, smart politics, and sound fiscal management. It offers Republicans—as well as Democrats—an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on public safety while creating jobs, strengthening communities, and reducing the massive economic drain of gun violence on America's prosperity.” Nice work, Andrew V. Papachristos. And thanks as always to you and our research partners at The Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science.

#InTheNews: In the first 8 months of 2024, NOVPN Member jurisdiction Milwaukee saw injuries and deaths from gun violence drop by close to 20% according to the Center for American Progress. City leaders and statewide advocates recognize that violence intervention efforts from the City of Milwaukee Office of Community Safety and Wellness (OCSW) and grassroots organizations like 414 Life and Project Ujima play a critical role in reducing violence. NOVPN strategic partner Advance Peace is also implementing their Peacemaker Fellowship model on the ground in Milwaukee. OCSW Director Ashanti Hamilton shared that while these reductions are promising, the work does not end here: “Reducing violence is an ongoing process…Sustainable change requires addressing the root causes of crime, and this means looking beyond the immediate crime reduction strategies and focusing on broader social, economic and systemic changes that contribute to violence.” Check out the article today! https://lnkd.in/gnecudR8

At our latest book club meeting, we delved into this article, published earlier this year by The New York Times, about addressing gun violence in Baton Rouge. Community members, the chief of police, and the mayor’s office are working together to replicate the Newark method, a community-based violence prevention effort credited with significantly decreasing crime in Newark, New Jersey.   🔍 The Challenge: Federal funding has traditionally favored law enforcement efforts over community-based programs. This funding gap creates a seemingly impenetrable cycle where "proven programs" continue to receive support while emerging initiatives struggle to secure the necessary resources to establish their effectiveness.   📊 The Solution: Communities in Baton Rouge and Newark are tackling this challenge by prioritizing data collection. In Newark, this included partnering with the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership to conduct a narrative evaluation* of the Newark Street Team. Our team read the narrative evaluation, discussing the crucial funding and rigor required to support these community efforts and measure their success.   💡 Fun Fact: The Newark Community Street Team is a partner in the South Ward Promise Neighborhood, which our Senior Project Director, Caroline Taggart, evaluates.      *Narrative Evaluation- https://lnkd.in/e-WqMYXr #CommunitySafety #ViolencePrevention #DataDriven #Evaluation #CommunityEngagement  

Amnesty International Wants a Gun Violence Prevention Office in Cincinnati, but Leaders are Skeptical The City Manager’s office, Councilmember Anna Albi and CPD’s union leader tell CityBeat the work is already being done. CityBeat - Madeline Fening “I think it ends up being $8.1 million,” Albi said. “And we have three categories of priorities within those human services, and one of them is specifically gun violence prevention. We also have housing, homelessness and workforce development. All of that, to me, also adds to our violence reduction strategy. We also have our safe and clean grants that we give out three times a year. Those are really focused on community place-based initiatives to maybe put in a community garden or things like that. There is a thing out there called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, where the idea is that the environment plays an important role in community safety.” USCPTED.com #CPTED #USCA https://lnkd.in/eiiyTfvc

Gun violence in Baltimore is at its lowest level since 2015—a hopeful sign that our collective efforts are working. The Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), holistic approaches to public safety, and strengthened partnerships between law enforcement, community organizations, and prosecutors have played a pivotal role in this achievement. We are proud of the progress we’ve made together. However, reducing homicides from 335 in 2020 to 201 in 2024 is a step, not the finish line. The loss of even one life is too many. Now is the time to double down on what works—community violence intervention, focused deterrence, and public health strategies—while continuing to innovate and collaborate. There’s still work to be done, but together, we can build a safer and stronger Baltimore! #CommunitySafety #GunViolence #Baltimore #Focuseddeterrence #Police #Lawenforcement #Prosecution #CVI #EndGunViolence #CharmCity Stefanie Jeremy vaughn Reygan Richard Kevin Sarah Lindsey Ciara

"Our youth are the long-term plan and approach to preventing future gun violence from spreading." In honor of Gun Violence Prevention Month, The Community Foundation is highlighting the work and mission of peacemakers who are working to empower children, youth and adults to build stronger, safer communities. We asked the TRIGGER Project to share how they are using positive youth development to prevent gun violence. https://ow.ly/TQJV50Sl9Om