Curated List: Violence Prevention and Community Safety

Evidence-informed strategies to prevent neighborhood crime and violence as well as intimate partner violence. These solutions address collaborative efforts between law enforcement and community residents, and connect families and youth at risk with social services and supports.

Click on column headings to sort by strategy, health topic, approach, evidence rating, or short description. Click on the strategy name for more information.

78 results (58 unique strategies)

Strategy ↑↓	Health Topic ↑↓	Approach ↑↓	Evidence Rating ↑↓	Short Description ↑↓
Zoning regulation and land use policy reforms	Air, water, land	Support responsible land use	Scientifically Supported	Reform zoning regulations to remove exclusionary zoning codes, address physical environment aesthetics and safety, street continuity and connectivity, residential density, and mixed-use development, etc.
Adult drug courts	Alcohol and drug use	Improve access to substance use counseling and treatment	Scientifically Supported	Use specialized courts to offer adults who are charged with an offense and have substance use disorders an alternative to adjudication or incarceration
Alcohol outlet density restrictions	Alcohol and drug use	Reduce availability of alcohol and other drugs	Scientifically Supported	Limit increases in the number and concentration of alcohol outlets by area or by population through licensing or zoning regulations
Alcohol taxes	Alcohol and drug use	Raise the price of alcohol	Scientifically Supported	Increase the price of alcohol via taxes levied for beer, wine, and liquor purchases
Alcohol advertising restrictions	Alcohol and drug use	Support responsible marketing and provision of alcohol and other legal drugs	Some Evidence	Restrict the content and placement of alcohol advertisements on broadcasts, outdoor displays, internet marketing, etc. via state laws, local ordinances, industry self-regulation, or a combination of efforts
Alcohol days of sale restrictions	Alcohol and drug use	Reduce availability of alcohol and other drugs	Some Evidence	Limit when alcohol can be sold in bars, restaurants, and/or liquor and convenience stores; limits may apply to days or times of sale
Drink special restrictions	Alcohol and drug use	Raise the price of alcohol	Some Evidence	Limit or ban alcohol establishments from serving alcohol at a reduced price as part of promotions; also called happy hour restrictions
Responsible beverage server training (RBS/RBST)	Alcohol and drug use	Support responsible marketing and provision of alcohol and other legal drugs	Some Evidence	Educate owners, managers, servers, and sellers at alcohol establishments about strategies to avoid illegally selling alcohol to underage youth or intoxicated patrons
Campus alcohol bans	Alcohol and drug use	Reduce availability of alcohol and other drugs	Insufficient Evidence	Restrict alcohol consumption anywhere on a college or university campus or only in specific areas (e.g., residence halls)
Recreational marijuana legalization	Alcohol and drug use	Support responsible marketing and provision of alcohol and other legal drugs	Mixed Evidence	Allow adults to possess a limited amount of marijuana for personal, non-medical use; often called recreational marijuana laws (RMLs)
Complete Streets & streetscape design initiatives	Civic and community resources	Increase community opportunities for activity	Scientifically Supported	Enhance streetscapes with greater sidewalk coverage and walkway connectivity, street crossing safety features, traffic calming measures, and other design elements
Green space & parks	Civic and community resources	Increase community opportunities for activity	Some Evidence	Increase green space through new parks or open spaces, renovation or enhancement of under-used recreation areas, rehabilitation of vacant lots, brownfields, etc.
Green space & parks	Civic and community resources	Increase community infrastructure	Some Evidence	Increase green space through new parks or open spaces, renovation or enhancement of under-used recreation areas, rehabilitation of vacant lots, brownfields, etc.
Housing reparations	Civic and community resources	Support community wealth-building	Expert Opinion	Apologize for discriminatory housing policies; increase subsidies, financing, and paths to homeownership for people of color; and invest in systematically disadvantaged neighborhoods
Trauma-informed approaches to community building	Civic and community resources	Build social capital within communities	Expert Opinion	Support and strengthen residents and communities who have experienced trauma and address effects of community trauma (e.g., poverty, violence, structural racism, etc.) via a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder, and multilevel approach
Complete Streets & streetscape design initiatives	Climate	Reduce greenhouse gas emissions	Scientifically Supported	Enhance streetscapes with greater sidewalk coverage and walkway connectivity, street crossing safety features, traffic calming measures, and other design elements
Zoning regulation and land use policy reforms	Climate	Reduce greenhouse gas emissions	Scientifically Supported	Reform zoning regulations to remove exclusionary zoning codes, address physical environment aesthetics and safety, street continuity and connectivity, residential density, and mixed-use development, etc.
Green space & parks	Climate	Reduce urban heat islands	Some Evidence	Increase green space through new parks or open spaces, renovation or enhancement of under-used recreation areas, rehabilitation of vacant lots, brownfields, etc.
Trauma-informed health care	Clinical care	Improve quality of care	Expert Opinion	Adopt universal trauma precautions and provide trauma-specific care to patients in health care organizations
Complete Streets & streetscape design initiatives	Diet and exercise	Create opportunities for active living	Scientifically Supported	Enhance streetscapes with greater sidewalk coverage and walkway connectivity, street crossing safety features, traffic calming measures, and other design elements
Zoning regulation and land use policy reforms	Diet and exercise	Create opportunities for active living	Scientifically Supported	Reform zoning regulations to remove exclusionary zoning codes, address physical environment aesthetics and safety, street continuity and connectivity, residential density, and mixed-use development, etc.
Extracurricular activities for physical activity	Diet and exercise	Create opportunities for active living	Some Evidence	Provide chances for kids and adolescents to be active and play sports at various skill levels via structured or unstructured after and before school athletic activities
Green space & parks	Diet and exercise	Create opportunities for active living	Some Evidence	Increase green space through new parks or open spaces, renovation or enhancement of under-used recreation areas, rehabilitation of vacant lots, brownfields, etc.
Preschool programs with family support services	Education	Increase early childhood education	Scientifically Supported	Provide center-based programs that support cognitive and social development among young children from families with low incomes, with supports such as home visiting or parental education
School-based violence & bullying prevention programs	Education	Create environments that support learning	Scientifically Supported	Address students’ disruptive and antisocial behavior by teaching self-awareness, emotional self-control, self-esteem, social problem solving, conflict resolution, team work, social skills, etc.
Trauma-informed schools	Education	Create environments that support learning	Scientifically Supported	Adopt a multi-tiered approach within schools to address the needs of trauma-exposed youth, including school-wide changes, screenings, and individual intensive support
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)	Education	Create environments that support learning	Some Evidence	Match disadvantaged or at-risk youth with volunteer mentors in school or community settings
High school equivalency credentials	Education	Increase high school completion rates	Some Evidence	Offer programs to help individuals without a high school diploma or its equivalent achieve a high school equivalency credential
School and district level zero tolerance policies	Education	Create environments that support learning	Evidence of Ineffectiveness	Require school officials to apply predetermined consequences for certain infractions, regardless of situational context or circumstances; consequences are usually severe (e.g., suspension or expulsion)
Complete Streets & streetscape design initiatives	Housing and transportation	Support active travel	Scientifically Supported	Enhance streetscapes with greater sidewalk coverage and walkway connectivity, street crossing safety features, traffic calming measures, and other design elements
Zoning regulation and land use policy reforms	Housing and transportation	Support active travel	Scientifically Supported	Reform zoning regulations to remove exclusionary zoning codes, address physical environment aesthetics and safety, street continuity and connectivity, residential density, and mixed-use development, etc.
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)	Housing and transportation	Ensure access to housing	Some Evidence	Provide eligible families with low and very low incomes with vouchers to help cover the costs of rental housing; also called Section 8
Rapid re-housing programs	Housing and transportation	Ensure access to housing	Some Evidence	Transition families and individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent housing quickly, often with supports such as short-term financial assistance, case management, landlord negotiations, etc.
Housing reparations	Housing and transportation	Ensure access to housing	Expert Opinion	Apologize for discriminatory housing policies; increase subsidies, financing, and paths to homeownership for people of color; and invest in systematically disadvantaged neighborhoods
Adult vocational training	Income, employment and wealth	Increase worker employability	Scientifically Supported	Support acquisition of job-specific skills through education, certification programs, or on-the-job training, often with personal development resources and other supports
Transitional and subsidized jobs	Income, employment and wealth	Increase worker employability	Scientifically Supported	Establish time-limited, subsidized, paid jobs to help individuals with barriers to employment transition to unsubsidized employment
High school equivalency credentials	Income, employment and wealth	Increase worker employability	Some Evidence	Offer programs to help individuals without a high school diploma or its equivalent achieve a high school equivalency credential
Summer youth employment programs	Income, employment and wealth	Increase worker employability	Some Evidence	Provide short-term employment opportunities for youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds
Unemployment insurance (UI)	Income, employment and wealth	Increase or supplement income	Some Evidence	Increase compensation provided to unemployed workers looking for jobs by expanding eligibility, amount, or duration of benefits
Housing reparations	Income, employment and wealth	Support asset development	Expert Opinion	Apologize for discriminatory housing policies; increase subsidies, financing, and paths to homeownership for people of color; and invest in systematically disadvantaged neighborhoods
Youth apprenticeship initiatives	Income, employment and wealth	Increase worker employability	Expert Opinion	Provide participating high school students with professional opportunities that combine academic and on-the-job training or mentorship
Adult drug courts	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Use specialized courts to offer adults who are charged with an offense and have substance use disorders an alternative to adjudication or incarceration
Alcohol outlet density restrictions	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Limit increases in the number and concentration of alcohol outlets by area or by population through licensing or zoning regulations
Child firearm access prevention laws	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Impose penalties on adults for a child’s unsupervised access to firearms
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for individuals involved in the justice system	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Use individual or group therapy to help individuals involved in the justice system discover and change the thought processes that lead to maladaptive behavior
Community policing	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Implement a policing philosophy based on community partnership, organizational transformation, and problem-solving techniques to proactively address public safety issues: also called community-oriented policing
Early childhood home visiting programs	Safety and social support	Prevent child maltreatment	Scientifically Supported	Provide at-risk expectant parents and families with young children with information, support, and training regarding child health, development, and care from prenatal stages through early childhood via trained home visitors
Early childhood home visiting programs	Safety and social support	Build social capital within families	Scientifically Supported	Provide at-risk expectant parents and families with young children with information, support, and training regarding child health, development, and care from prenatal stages through early childhood via trained home visitors
Firearm licensing laws	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Require a potential purchaser to obtain a permit or license before purchasing a firearm
Focused deterrence strategies	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Target a particular crime through law enforcement and community agency cooperation and coordination of various deterrents and social services; also called pulling levers policing
Functional Family Therapy (FFT)	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Scientifically Supported	Introduce a short-term family-based intervention therapy focused on strengths, protective factors, and risk factors for youth with delinquency, violence, or substance abuse problems, and their families
Hot spot policing	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Focus police resources and enforcement on high-activity crime locations within a community (e.g., street blocks and buildings) using policing tactics such as increasing enforcement time, problem-oriented policing, etc.
Mentoring programs to prevent youth delinquency	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Pair youth at risk for delinquent behavior with mentors to develop relationships and spend time at regular meetings for an extended period; mentors have greater knowledge, skills, etc. than mentees
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for adolescents involved in the justice system	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Scientifically Supported	Use an intensive, family- and community-based intervention that addresses individual, family, and environmental risk factors that affect antisocial behaviors among adolescents who have committed serious offenses
Neighborhood watch	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Support the efforts of neighborhood residents to work together in preventing crime by reporting suspicious or potentially criminal behavior to local law enforcement
Preschool programs with family support services	Safety and social support	Ensure access to counseling and support	Scientifically Supported	Provide center-based programs that support cognitive and social development among young children from families with low incomes, with supports such as home visiting or parental education
Restorative justice in the criminal justice system	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Scientifically Supported	Use victim-offender dialogue to address the harm caused by a crime and victims’ needs; can take place pre-arrest or post sentence via sharing circles, victim-offender mediation, or face-to-face conferences
Trauma-informed schools	Safety and social support	Ensure access to counseling and support	Scientifically Supported	Adopt a multi-tiered approach within schools to address the needs of trauma-exposed youth, including school-wide changes, screenings, and individual intensive support
Treatment Foster Care Oregon	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Scientifically Supported	Place severely and chronically delinquent youth in foster families that are trained in structured behavior management and connected to TFCO program staff; formerly called Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Some Evidence	Match disadvantaged or at-risk youth with volunteer mentors in school or community settings
Crisis lines	Safety and social support	Ensure access to counseling and support	Some Evidence	Provide free and confidential counseling and service referrals via telephone-based conversation, web-based chat, or text message to individuals in crisis, particularly those with severe mental health concerns
Father involvement programs	Safety and social support	Build social capital within families	Some Evidence	Support fathers’ active involvement in child rearing via various father-focused or family-focused interventions
Firearm restrictions for people convicted of domestic violence	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Some Evidence	Prohibit firearm purchase and possession by people convicted in any court of a domestic violence misdemeanor or by people subject to a domestic violence protective/restraining order
Health care screening & follow-up for intimate partner violence	Safety and social support	Prevent intimate partner violence	Some Evidence	Assesses past or present experience of intimate partner violence among female patients in health care settings and provides follow-ups such as counseling or referrals for services
School-based intimate partner violence prevention programs	Safety and social support	Prevent intimate partner violence	Some Evidence	Provide youth with teen dating violence education that addresses healthy relationships, gender norms, relationship coercion, and violence in a school setting
Summer youth employment programs	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Some Evidence	Provide short-term employment opportunities for youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds
Treatment Foster Care	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Some Evidence	Place youth with mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges in foster families that provide a structured, nurturing, therapeutic environment; also called Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC)
Universal firearm background checks	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Some Evidence	Require both licensed firearm dealers and unlicensed (i.e., private) firearm sellers to conduct background checks of potential firearm purchasers; also known as comprehensive background checks
Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Expert Opinion	Restrict firearm access for individuals who are at risk of harming themselves or others by petitioning a civil court for an extreme risk protection order
Raise the Age	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Expert Opinion	Increase the minimum and/or maximum age boundaries for youth to be processed in the juvenile justice system
Trauma-informed juvenile justice systems	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Expert Opinion	Support a trauma-informed juvenile justice system to recognize and respond to trauma’s impact on youth through staff training and broad adoption of trauma-informed practices and policies
Advocacy for victims of intimate partner violence	Safety and social support	Prevent intimate partner violence	Insufficient Evidence	Work to partner with victims/survivors of intimate partner violence, help them with safety plans, and link them to community services (e.g., legal, housing, financial advice, emergency shelter, etc.)
Juvenile curfews	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Evidence of Ineffectiveness	Restrict youth under a certain age from being in public places during certain hours, usually at night
Scared Straight	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Evidence of Ineffectiveness	Organize tours of prison facilities for juvenile delinquents or youth at risk of delinquency and allow them to observe prison life and attend inmates’ presentations; also called juvenile awareness programs
Youth transfer to the adult criminal justice system	Safety and social support	Assist youth involved with the justice system	Evidence of Ineffectiveness	Transfer youth who are arrested from the juvenile justice system to the adult criminal justice system by discretionary transfer decisions or transfer qualifying criteria
Court mandated programs for perpetrators of intimate partner violence	Safety and social support	Prevent intimate partner violence	Mixed Evidence	Expand court-referred intimate partner violence offenders' understanding of abuse, teach alternative reactions, and work to change gender role attitudes; also called batterer intervention programs (BIPs)
Cure Violence model	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Mixed Evidence	Use a public health approach to detect and intervene in potentially violent situations, educate and mobilize communities, and connect individuals at high risk of violence to services; formerly called Chicago CeaseFire
Recreational marijuana legalization	Safety and social support	Prevent neighborhood crime and violence	Mixed Evidence	Allow adults to possess a limited amount of marijuana for personal, non-medical use; often called recreational marijuana laws (RMLs)