Community Violence Intervention & Prevention The Office of the Attorney General’s Community Violence Intervention & Prevention (CVIP) Unit strives to implement evidence-informed strategies that de-escalate, reduce, and prevent acts of violence in Rhode Island. Working alongside community based organizations that deploy an array of Community Violence Strategies, like mediate conflict and advocate for nonviolence. The goal of the CVIP Unit is to reduce community violence by implementing a Statewide strategy that supports and connects community-based organizations to resources and expertise needed to engage with high at-risk individuals that are most likely to be victims of, or commit, a violent crime. Source: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/firearm-violence/index.html The CVIP Unit is focused on preventing all forms of violence that occur “outside” the home, with a particular focus on limiting gun violence. According to an Advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General in June 2024, community-based intervention programs are recognized as effective responses to the public health crisis posed by firearm violence. Our mission is to address this crisis directly, and to advocate for policies that promote sustainable change and long-term community health. For more information about Community Violence Intervention & Prevention, visit the Department of Justice’s page on CVIP here, and below in our FAQ. If you have additional questions, please contact PJ Fox, Director of the CVIP Unit, at pjfox@riag.ri.gov. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Strategies, & Resources What are some of the “evidence-informed” strategies utilized by CVIP programs? There are numerous kinds of “evidence-informed” strategies that fall under the banner of Community Violence Intervention; some popular variants are listed below. These strategies can be deployed individually or concurrently, targeting different populations of high-risk individuals through various methods. In determining which strategy to implement, it is critical that a CVIP program is informed by the community’s needs, and is refined through continual collaboration with residents, social services, and law enforcement. How do you ensure that a CVIP program is effective and sustainable? CVIP programs are generally carried out in six steps to ensure that they are properly formulated, implemented, and assessed: Engage Community Members and Conduct a Community Violence Assessment: Prioritizes receiving community input, analyzing available data to identify high-risk groups and locations, identifying relevant root causes of violence, and connecting with appropriate stakeholders. Form a Community Collaboration: Prioritizes identifying community partners for collaboration and building trust to strengthen collaboration. Implement CVIP: With input from community partners, select appropriate CVIP strategies and create a supportive structure for the implementation of holistic, trauma-informed approaches to reducing community violence. Setting CVIP Up for Success: Prioritizes engagement with the community and frequent solicitation of feedback from community members regarding the selected CVIP program. Continually assess collaboration with CVIP partner organizations and law enforcement agencies to refine CVIP program and support CVIP staffers. Measure Success: Prioritizes identifying and tracking the CVIP program’s performance measures according to the metrics targeted by the intended program (e.g., reduction in firearm injuries, heightened sense of safety in community, etc.). Collected data will be used to evaluate the CVIP program’s effectiveness. Sustain Success and Continuous Improvement: If the CVIP program is found to be effective, implement measures that will enable its sustained success (e.g., increased staff, continued program funding, etc.). If the CVIP program is not found to be effective in achieving its intended goals, consult community members to determine relevant adjustments to improve the program in the future. How have CVIP measures been implemented in other states? As a part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Biden administration secured $300 million for CVIP programs, and has called for the expansion of CVIP measures nationwide. For more information about other CVIP units across the country, visit the Joyce Foundation’s 2024 report on CVIP state offices here. For information about the success of local CVIP programs in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, visit the Giffords Law Center report on Investing in Intervention here. What organizations are currently implementing CVIP measures at the local level in Rhode Island? Please note that this is not a complete list and more organizations will be added. Should you require assistance with connecting with one of the below agencies or you are looking for additional resources please contact PJ Fox, Director of CVIP at pjfox@riag.ri.gov The Nonviolence Institute works to intervene in the violence by engaging with high at-risk individuals and victims of violent crime, and provide violence prevention education and resources to communities and organizations Statewide. Tides Family Services supports children and families currently engaged with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and juveniles involved in the criminal justice system. Mentor Rhode Island matches mentors with youth across the State and provides opportunities for at-risk youth to engage in community-based group mentoring programs. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) conducts violence-related research and advocates for policy changes that affect the overall safety of all RI communities. Rhode Island Reentry Alliance is a gathering of Reentry community-based organizations and returning individuals that work to provide a better transition back into the community at large. Project Safe Neighborhoods engages in regular meetings “to identify areas of violent crimes, crime patterns, at-risk offenders, and to offer intervention and prevention strategies and resources” in the pursuit of reducing violent crime. Where can I find additional information about CVIP and related programming? RIAG Resources: Housed within the RIAG's Civil Division, the Civil Rights Violations & Hate Crimes team may investigate complaints and bring civil enforcement action when the rights or safety of a protected class are threatened. The RIAG's Victim Services team strives to assist victims navigate and participate in the felony process while protecting their individual rights. VOICE is an online system that streamlines service delivery and allows state agencies to better serve victims of crime in Rhode Island. The RIAG's Cold Case Unit works with local police departments to resolve unsolved homicides in the State, thereby providing justice to victims, their families, and the people of Rhode Island. Community Resources: Rhode Islanders can access the Victim Information And Notification Everyday (VINE), a free, anonymous, computer assisted telephone service that provides offender custody information and notification of changes in offender custody status. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) is a coalition of community leaders, activists, and legislators that address gun violence as a public health crisis. The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) offers victim-focused services and education to promote a landscape where all Rhode Islanders can live “free from fear and violence.” Since 1985, the Rhode Island Public Safety Grant Administration Office has administered funding for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victims Assistance Program to support direct services to victims of violent crime. National Research: The Joyce Foundation is a private, nonpartisan philanthropic group investing in public policies “to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region.” Giffords is a non-profit organization aiming to shift culture and policies surrounding firearms with the aim of reducing gun violence. Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC)– Safety and Justice Division National Offices of State Violence Prevention Network MOMS Demand Action In addition to the 2024 Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) has created shareable resources outlining the scope of firearm violence as a public health issue. What does our CVIP Unit do? Adhere to the general principles of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention, and ensure that all violence reduction CVIP deployed strategies are community-centered and community-centered Conduct a Community Violence Assessment – to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that currently exist within communities that are hoping to effectively reduce violence Assist with developing CVIP programs based on the Community Assessments that are community-centered and based Provide Technical Assistance to community-based organizations engaging in CVIP strategies Support external funding proposals in a variety of ways such as providing letters of support, draft proposal feedback, partnership building, and resources-building opportunities Connect individuals affected by violence to community-based services and supports Provide training to organizations interested in developing infrastructures to engage in community violence intervention and prevention strategies Partner with Community-Based Organizations in engaging with communities during or after violent incidents occur Seek and advocate for resources to address gaps in CVIP services and supports on a Statewide and local level Partner with all violence reduction Community-Based Organizations and agencies to ensure the RI Attorney General’s Office is accessible and responsive to all Rhode Islanders Share available violent-related data with stakeholders to direct resources more efficiently and effectively. Assist with connecting CVIP stakeholders to local police departments Attend or speak at community events, meetings, and community conversations regarding issues related to violence intervention and prevention