There have been nearly 34 percent fewer shootings in Chicago in 2023 compared to 2021, and many neighborhoods served by Community Violence Intervention (CVI) groups saw more improvements than citywide numbers. A report by CVI organizations and the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, which MacArthur supports, shows the benefits of CVI in reducing both arrests and victimization. CVI can include interlacing approaches such as outreach, mediation, deterrence, coaching, trauma treatment, education, and job training, especially with people at high risk of violence.
The combined efforts of organizations across the city—including Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), READI Chicago, Chicago CRED, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, and others—have had an important impact on reducing gun violence. A 2021 analysis of CP4P affirmed that program participants are less likely to be shot after joining the program, although they remain at extremely high risk. Scaling CVI could expand to reach 50-75 percent of the highest-risk individuals in the city which would reduce homicides and shootings by similar margins.
