Community-driven violence reduction programs

D espite some evidence of reductions (FBI, 2009a), violent crime remains among the most important social problems affecting the quality of life in communities throughout the United States. Aggregate reductions also mask the variability in violence among and within communities. The total number of persons annually victimized by violence remains high. In 2008, more than 9,000 persons were killed with guns (FBI, 2009b). In 2006, 71,000 persons suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds, and 2.1 million persons sustained an injury requiring emergency-room treatment as a result of a violent incident (CDC, 2010). Overall, more than six million individuals were victimized by crimes of violence in 2006 (BJS, 2007). One comprehensive review of gun research indicated that firearms play a significant role in violence and that young persons are particularly vulnerable to violence and death from firearms (Wellford, Pepper, and Petrie, 2005). The impact of violent crime on individuals, families, and communities is substantial. Some estimates indicate that the annual costs of gun violence are approximately $100 billion (Cook and Ludwig, 2000). The annual costs of all personal victimization by violence, including intangible losses such as pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life, are more than $450 billion (NIJ, 1996). This figure is dated and likely to be significantly higher today.