Policy
VRC staff have advised hundreds of leaders on improving policies to save lives at the local, state, national, and international levels. For example, the VRC helped the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice develop their Violent Crime Roadmap, a one-stop-shop helping local jurisdictions access the Department’s resources to address community gun violence. Key resources are provided below.
VRC Policy Resources
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions: Scaling Success to Save Lives.
Thomas Abt et al., 2025. Violence Reduction Center.
This white paper highlights the evidence supporting cognitive behavioral interventions in reducing community violence while exploring how these strategies can be effectively implemented and expanded.
Examining Community Violence Problem Analysis: Past, Present and Future.
Thomas Abt & Richard Hahn, 2024. Violence Reduction Center.
This white paper draws on a national convening of experts to examine research, challenges, and opportunities related to community violence problem analysis and local capacity to use these tools.
Tackling Crime Requires Local, Data-Driven Solutions.
Thomas Abt, 2024. Newsweek.
Amid national crime debates, local evidence-informed solutions are proving effective in reducing violence.
Testimony before House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance.
Thomas Abt, 2023.
Abt’s testimony explores Washington, DC’s unique local/federal hybrid structure and offers concrete recommendations for addressing the city’s violent crime problem.
The U.S. Knows How to Reduce Violent Crime.
Thomas Abt, 2022. Wall Street Journal.
Amid rising crime rates, US cities should move past partisan politics and use evidence-based strategies.
Testimony before House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Thomas Abt, 2022.
This article covers issues to consider when re-imagining criminal justice in the Covid-19 era, advocating for the use of evidence-informed strategies for reducing community gun violence.
Saving Lives: Ten Essential Actions Cities Can Take to Reduce Violence Now
Council on Criminal Justice, 2022.
In this report, the CCJ Violent Crime Working Group identifies Ten Essential Actions that cities can take now to reduce community gun violence. This list highlights the actions members believe are most likely to make the greatest immediate impact on violence. Presented in roughly sequential order, the actions are short-term measures that can be carried out within a year. They are not intended to replace longer-term strategies and investments.
Necessary but Not Sufficient: The Police Role in Reducing Violence.
Thomas Abt, 2021. Police Chief Magazine
This article is a call to police chiefs across the United States to more seriously address community gun violence.
Protests Focus on Over-Policing, But Under-Policing is Also Deadly.
Rod Brunson, 2020. Washington Post.
While much attention has been paid to police maintaining a disproportionately large presence in disadvantaged communities, an often overlooked but important issue is that the same communities often do not receive the police services they need.