Learn Why CVI Works

Community Violence Intervention works because it's hyperlocal, restorative, collaborative, non-violent, and trauma-informed. 

Gun violence in Illinois is concentrated in a few specific areas.

In Illinois, gun violence is most concentrated in 16 municipal clusters. To reduce gun violence, we need to funding CVI in these areas. The orange counties include municipalities with the most concentrated gun violence in 2016-2020. Hover on the orange counties to see combined fatal and non-fatal shootings (excluding self-inflicted) from 2016-2020.


In Chicago, 75% of all homicides take place in just 25 neighborhoods On this map of Chicago community areas, the orange-highlighted areas on the South Side and black-highlighted areas on the West Side had the highest homicide and shooting rates in 2022. CVI reduces gun violence by focusing intervention services in violence hotspots. Hover on the orange and black community areas for more info about these gun violence hotspots.

What research tells us...

Social Networks & Violence

Gun violence is tragic but it is not random. A very small percentage of people are involved in the majority of gun violence. This is why CVI focuses on the highest risk individuals—because transforming their lives has a ripple effect.

Listen to Dr. Andrew Papachristos, sociologist and leading expert in gun violence research, talk about social networks and violence

A 2021 study by Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative (N3) found that when the highest risk community members receive comprehensive services, gun violence drops. This is why CVI’s three pillars of street outreach, therapy, and workforce development, are key to transforming communities.

Read the Northwestern University study

A Multi-Pronged Approach to CVI & Violence Reduction

Street Outreach and the Efficacy of Outreach Workers

A 2022 assessment by Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative (now known as CORNERS) at Northwestern University found evidence that when street outreach workers are deployed to the violence hotspots, gun violence goes down. In 2022, 92% of the communities with deployed outreach workers saw reductions in violence, thanks to the new Flatlining Violence Inspires Peace (FLIP) Strategy.

Read FLIP Midline Report

Evaluations & Research about CVI

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Community Violence Prevention, Intervention and Suppression, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2017

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Investing in Intervention, Giffords Law Center, 2018

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The City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Comprehensive Strategy, GYRD, 2018

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Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) Evaluation: 2018–19 Final Programmatic Report, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, 2019

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Intervention Strategies, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence

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The Effects Of Cure Violence In The South Bronx And East New York, Brooklyn, Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2017

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