NCJ Number
244850
Date Published
September 2013
Length
136 pages
Annotation
This report presents a detailed Implementation Guide for developing the components of the National Network for Safe Communities' Group Violence Intervention (GVI) initiative, which focuses on the immediate cessation of gun violence in targeted neighborhoods.
Abstract
GVI's core components consist of identifying the groups that drive the violence and establishing a partnership among law enforcement personnel, community residents, and social service providers. GVI recognizes that angry, abused, and endangered street offenders are not inclined to listen to or comply with the expectations of police officers, the mayor, and other city officials; however, they are more willing to listen to mothers, reformed ex-offenders, and long-time community residents. These are people who have a shared experience of neighborhood conditions and coping with its socioeconomic disadvantages. The intent of the partnership among the police, community residents and social service agencies is to emphasize to violent groups that any future violence will be met with predictable and certain consequences, that neighborhood residents do not want and will not tolerate violence in the neighborhood, and that assistance for various needs is available from social service agencies. This guide provides the necessary steps for implementing GVI. The step of "Initial Planning" addresses key commitments, a working group, a communications strategy, and sustainability. The step of "Problem Analysis" consists of assessment of the prevalence and problems of group violence. The step of "Demonstration Enforcement Action" involves the design and implementation of a model enforcement action to stop group violence. Other steps involve the organization of "Community Moral Voices," "Social Services," "Call-in Preparation and Execution," "Maintenance and Ensuring Program Integrity," and "Sustainability and Accountability." A 25-item bibliography and appended tools and samples for implementing GVI