Community Violence Prevention Programs Remain a Smart Investment

Violence prevention and intervention programs have rapidly expanded across the country, thanks to support from the Biden-Harris administration. Last June, the US Surgeon General released his report. initial consultation Recognizing gun violence as a public health crisis and recognizing community violence intervention (CVI) programs as a vital part of the public health approach to stopping violence. But unless federal, state and local investments increase, these life-saving programs are bound to shrink or even disappear.

“CVI” is a new term, but cities are relying on the help of trusted messengers on the street to stem rising tensions and prevent generational reprisals. The deep community ties of these front-line public safety workers enable them to reach people that law enforcement cannot.

Unprecedented federal investments have helped fuel recent growth in CVI programs. For example, many cities benefited pandemic period relief Funds to start or expand CVI programs or create local programs violence prevention officeswhich improves coordination between these programs and the broader public safety ecosystem. Estimated as of March 2024 $377 million Dollars from pandemic relief funded 231 CVI projects.

Street outreach programs address the root causes of gun violence by connecting high-risk individuals with housing, recovery resources, case management, and employment services. Modern CVI programs, when properly implemented, could reduce gun homicides by the same amount. 60 percent. And for every dollar invested in these programs, they can: Save taxpayers up to $41 in medical and criminal legal expenses.

For example, gun violence in Detroit is declining by double digits for the second year in a row after the city’s decision to award federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to six organizations. ShotStoppers CVI program. Thanks to increased coordination between cities and groups Garden Paths, Murder cases have been seen in Bakersfield, California, every year since 2022, and gun victimizations are also increasing. 39 percent decrease this year. Murders in Philadelphia dropped by almost 70 percent after the city compared to three years ago created an interagency task force Investing federal, state, and local funds to analyze and support gun violence data hospital based Programs and CVI programs where frontline outreach workers connect individuals with each other housing, employment and healing resources.

Despite growing evidence showing that investing in CVI saves lives and money, these programs often operate on tight budgets and are often justify their existence. Outreach workers are risking their lives by spreading anti-violence messages and providing a different path for individuals at high risk of involvement in gun violence. Without adequate funding, these workers cannot connect vulnerable community members with the tools they need to make behavioral changes and restore a sense of hope and connectedness in their lives.

Management has repeatedly recognized the need. Ministry of Justice in 2022 Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative– First federal grant program for CVI efforts. The program quickly doubled its award amount when Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Biden-Harris administration has provided $400 million in total funding for this program since its launch.

But worryingly, many of the programs created or expanded by these federal funds will soon be at risk of layoffs or even closure. With the two main sources of federal CVI funds set to expire in 2026 (ARPA and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act), increased federal investments are more urgent than ever.

If passed by Congress, Nevada Democrat Steven Horsford Breaking the Cycle of Violence Act It will establish the first federal civil violence response office within the Department of Health and Human Services. It will also provide $5 billion in grants over five years to regional CVI programs and provide an additional $1.5 billion in workforce training and job opportunities for young adults within those programs. The funds proposed in this bill will help ensure that our nation’s most vulnerable cities can implement violence response and prevention efforts and that those on the front lines of that work are appropriately compensated.

Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to pass stronger gun laws and invest more in addressing the root causes of violence, rather than investing more in it. eliminate financing Public health approaches to reducing gun violence and defunding federal law enforcement agencies The focus was on solving violent crimes. In June, a spending bill put forward by House Republicans proposed cuts to the Justice Department budget by nearly $1 billion; this would eliminate funding for all CVI programs. thousands law enforcement positions. The bill also zeroed out government funding for prevention research. gunshot wounds and deaths.

In light of this, and recognizing the importance of expanding violence intervention programs, a growing number of states have decided to be proactive rather than see if Congress can pass the Breaking the Cycle of Violence Act. For example, Pennsylvania’s latest budget includes: $45 million An additional $11.5 million for the Violence Intervention and Prevention program and regional after-school CVI programs. Michigan’s budget included $7.8 million for CVI services and related grants. Florida is currently accepting applications for a new CVI grant program. $2.5 million general fund. California has taken an innovative approach by adopting a new approach. 11 percent consumption tax It is expected to generate $160 million in revenue annually from firearms and ammunition. The funds will then be directed to CVI programs, school safety initiatives, and resources for victims of gun violence.

Cities and counties that have invested in CVI programs have seen: record-breaking lows In gun-related violence and deaths. In fact, this year the U.S. experienced its lowest “summer spike” in gun violence since 2018. Police and prosecutors play an important role in the public safety ecosystem, but we cannot hold our way out of a public health crisis and law enforcement. like that increasingly supportive from CVI programs. Police officers are aware that they cannot do this job alone. But without additional funds to supplement these violence intervention programs or replace soon-to-be-expired programs, cities across America can expect to see more retaliatory shootings and higher murder rates in the coming years.

We need reliable and coordinated funding for CVI programs at the local, state, and federal levels to prevent rollbacks of the important progress that has been made. Time is running out; If we don’t invest in security now, our societies will continue to pay the ultimate price.

Nick Wilson is senior director of Gun Violence Prevention at the Center for American Progress.

Management‘s opinion columns reflect the views of their authors; Managementeditors or management.