NCJ Number
245610
Date Published
July 2012
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This report describes the operations of New York City's Cure Violence (CV) model, which uses a public health strategy for reducing the incidence and severity of gun violence.
Abstract
A public health approach to reducing gun violence does not involve the use of force or even the threat of force. It presumes that violent behavior, like all behavior, responds to structures, incentives, and norms. People behave violently when violence is viewed and accepted as a normal, or even expected, by their friends, family, and neighbors. Cure Violence (formerly known as the Chicago Ceasefire project) aims to harness the forces that shape behavior in such a way as to "denormalize" violence as an acceptable, valued behavior in resolving conflicts or establishing power and/or status between and among groups and individuals. The CV program elements involve efforts to shape social norms through public information campaigns and reinforcement of the community's support for non-violence; proactive violence interruption based on neighborhood contacts that enable targeted prevention measures; street outreach with former gang members and ex-offenders who encourage new norms for addressing conflict and issues of individual and group status; supportive services and opportunities; offender "call ins;" and targeted responsive prosecutions of individuals who persist in behaving violently and using guns as a weapon. CV performance measures and evaluation methods are discussed as an essential tool for determining whether CV as implemented achieves its goals. 33 references