Evidence-Based Violence Reduction Works — And It’s Bigger Than Arrests

A recent article in Police Chief Magazine, “Empowering Safer Choices for Stronger Communities,” is an excellent example of what effective, modern violence reduction actually looks like in practice.

The article highlights how Community Violence Intervention (CVI), Group Violence Intervention (GVI), and focused deterrence are not theoretical concepts or academic buzzwords—they are data-driven, evidence-based strategies that have demonstrated consistent, real-world reductions in serious violence when implemented correctly and collaboratively.

What stands out most is that these approaches:

• Are driven by data and analysis, identifying the small number of individuals, groups, and places driving the majority of serious violence.

• Focus on targeted, strategic resource allocation, rather than broad, reactive enforcement.

• Require strong partnerships and teamwork between law enforcement, community leaders, service providers, and stakeholders.

• Seek to understand and address underlying causes of violence, not just its symptoms.

• Reduce the social and economic costs of violence, making them cost-effective and sustainable over time.

• Ultimately benefit both communities and police, by reducing harm, improving safety, and strengthening legitimacy and trust.

This is exactly why I founded Proactive Prevention Strategies, LLC.

My work is centered on helping law enforcement professionals, supervisors, and community leaders better understand how and why these approaches work—and how they can be practically implemented, regardless of agency size, budget, or staffing constraints. Proactive crime prevention is not about doing more for the sake of appearances; it’s about doing what works, where it matters most, and with the right partners at the table.

When prevention is done thoughtfully and collaboratively, the results extend far beyond crime reduction—they create safer neighborhoods, healthier communities, and long-term economic and public-safety benefits for everyone.

I strongly encourage you to read the article and consider how these strategies can be applied in your own community:

Group Violence Intervention and Its Impact on Communities - Police Chief Magazine

 (Ortiz-Aub, 2025)