Beyond the Barrel of the Gun

by Shannon Chaffers
Amsterdam News
February 1, 2024

Experts say that measuring the effects of the program is difficult, because it can be hard to isolate the causes of fluctuations in gun violence at a neighborhood level, and each Cure Violence program differs slightly. But researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who studied the program found that it is a “promising model” for addressing community gun violence. Their study showed that neighborhoods with CMS sites had a steeper decline in gun violence and greater reductions in social norms supporting violence compared to areas without sites.

“I think it’s been proven enough to know that it’s a good investment for local governments as a complement to law enforcement,” said the study’s co-author, Jeffrey Butts. “[These programs] don’t have to be magic solutions. They just have to help contribute to public safety, and they pay for themselves. And they met that standard.”

… “The things that make communities safe have nothing to do with patrol cars and badges. [It’s] about the strength of the neighborhood, economic opportunities, housing, schools, medical care—all the stuff that rich people take for granted. That’s how you build a strong community and make safety. But the challenge is to get public officials to actually care about that,” said Jeffrey Butts of John Jay College.

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