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Youth Violence Intervention Initiative

Overview

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has increased its focus on reducing violent crime and gun violence to create safer communities for youth and families.

In April 2021, President Biden announced the launch of the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) initiative that prioritizes investments in trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches to prevent and respond to violence.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and OJJDP support White House efforts and are committed to addressing violent crime and gun violence, which disproportionality impact communities of color and high-poverty neighborhoods.

In May 2021, DOJ announcedComprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. As part of DOJ's initiative, OJJDP participates in the Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee. This working group comprises Department and interagency partners to discuss initiatives and joint efforts to reduce violent crime. 

"In this endeavor, we will engage our communities as critical partners. And through our grantmaking, we will support programming at all stages–from the earliest violence interruption strategies to post-conviction reentry services."

—Attorney General Garland

OJJDP also awards grant funding, provides training, and technical assistance, and partners with law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations to develop new strategies and approaches to CVI and crime reduction.

Community Violence Intervention Webinar Series

OJJDP, along with the White House and other federal agencies, will host a series of webinars on CVI-related topics. The webinars will help communities seek, implement or expand CVI efforts.

The Biden Administration's Focus on Jurisdiction-Specific CVI Efforts

In June 2021, President Biden announced that the Administration would convene and support a CVI collaborative of more than a dozen jurisdictions that are committing to use a portion of their American Rescue Plan funding or other public funding to increase investment in CVI, which includes anticipating and responding to the potential rise in violence this summer. The Administration will convene meetings with officials from 16 communities, facilitate peer-to-peer learning, and provide technical assistance.

As part of its focus on violence reduction across the nation, the Department of Justice, including OJJDP, will support the efforts in these jurisdictions through training and technical assistance and grant making. This is part of the broader work that OJJDP has undertaken and will continue to undertake in its focus on violence reduction.

Jurisdictions include:

Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Memphis, TN Philadelphia, PA
Austin, TX Detroit, MI  Miami-Dade County, FL Rapid City, SD
Baltimore, MD King County, WA Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN St. Louis, MO
Baton Rouge, LA Los Angeles, CA Newark, NJ Washington, DC

 

Next: Funding and Programs