Los Angeles, CA — October 16, 2025 — For decades, the U.S. has treated gun violence like a criminal issue —not a public health crisis. A new report from the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) argues that it’s time to change that.
“Community Solutions to Prevent Gun Violence: Strengthening Research and Evaluation to Build Safer Neighborhoods” explores how evidence-based community-driven strategies are saving lives and rebuilding trust — and why they’re at risk of disappearing just when they’re needed most.
As federal funding wanes with Department of Justice cuts, the expiration of these initiatives hangs in the balance. Without sustained investment, programs proven to prevent shootings and interrupt cycles of harm could be forced to shut down.
CPE’s report highlights:
- Why policing cannot be the primary response to a crisis rooted in inequity and trauma.
- How Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiatives (CVIPI) offer a comprehensive, compassionate alternative.
- What’s needed to ensure these programs last, including more rigorous, community-informed evaluation and sustained funding.
This comes at a critical inflection point for communities across the nation still grappling with rising gun violence and shrinking prevention budgets.
The full report is available HERE.