Community Violence Programs Show Promise Amid Political Crackdowns

Over recent months, federal measures risk reversing years of dedicated efforts in American cities to reduce crime, rebuild public trust in law enforcement, and expand effective public safety strategies that save lives and reduce costs. Chicago, the author’s hometown, is among the cities targeted and is currently on track to record its lowest homicide rate since 1965.

A key contributor to Chicago’s improving safety statistics is the expansion of community violence intervention (CVI) programs, one of which the author helps lead.

These programs function by partnering with research institutions such as Northwestern University to identify individuals at the highest risk of gun violence through arrest records and victimization histories. Network analyses are also conducted to include associates with similar risk profiles, supplemented by insights from outreach workers actively engaged in the community.

Trusted community members, often with past criminal records, are recruited to engage these high-risk individuals. Participants receive stipends, personal coaching, trauma therapy, education, and vocational training. Coaches and therapists equip them with emotional regulation tools and conflict resolution skills aimed at preventing violent escalation. Since 2016, the program has supported over 2,000 participants, with other CVI initiatives serving thousands more throughout Chicago.

While some political figures dismiss these approaches as overly simplistic, mounting research from institutions like Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Crime Lab frames gun violence primarily as a public health crisis rather than solely a criminal justice issue. Notably, Chicago has seen both crime rates and arrests decline significantly since the onset of the pandemic.

Data from Northwestern University indicates a 73 percent reduction in rearrests among program participants compared to comparable high-risk individuals who did not complete the program. This improvement is largely attributed to participants ceasing to carry firearms and adopting safer, nonviolent behaviors. Although attributing specific declines in shootings directly to these programs is complex, one study estimates that CVI efforts have prevented 383 shootings and 605 arrests in Chicago over a five-year period.