Cuts to violence prevention
Violence is down across the country—but prevention programs are under threat.
Over the last couple of years, crime has dropped significantly, thanks to targeted investments in community violence intervention, school-based prevention, rural safety efforts, and similar strategies. These programs reduce shootings, interrupt cycles of retaliation, and create real pathways to healing.
Yet despite their impact, the federal government has cut over $800 million in funding—putting frontline organizations and the communities they serve in jeopardy.
Top arguments & evidence
Communities already know what makes them safer
Communities already know what makes them safer, and these programs helped them work toward that goal. Safety is about preventing violence through proven, targeted approaches like engaging with people most likely to commit or experience violence, working with youth, and delivering better policing. No victim wants to be told they are sorry for the loss and pain - they don't want to be a victim in the first place.
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63% reduction in shootings
A community violence intervention (CVI) program in East Harlem—where trusted community members mediate conflict—reduced shootings by 63%.
02
29% reduction in violence for high schoolers from school-based prevention programs
Violence prevention programs are especially important for protecting youth. These programs ensure that kids, who are particularly at risk of committing violence due to developing brains, get or stay on the right track, avoiding violence and arrest and staying out of the criminal legal system.
03
Building trust and community healing
CVI programs foster trust between residents and institutions while promoting healing through trauma-informed care. By engaging directly with those most at risk through credible messengers from the community, these programs don't just respond to violence—they prevent it through connection, compassion, and accountability, creating pathways to long-term safety and well-being.
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Learn more about the cuts to violence prevention
Download our one-page explainer that details what the administration is doing, it’s impact, and the ways to get involved.
What's being cut
Federal cuts threaten critical community support systems
The Department of Justice has slashed critical funding across mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and victim support programs—undermining decades of bipartisan commitment to public safety.
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// Mental Health/Substance Abuse
Federal Cuts Threaten Mental Health Support and Substance Abuse Treatment
The Department of Justice has slashed $88 million in critical grant awards for substance abuse treatment and mental health services, creating a significant risk to public safety and community well-being. Community crisis response programs face immediate shutdown, reducing alternative intervention strategies for law enforcement.
// Public Safety Risk
44% of people in jail have a mental health issue
44 percent of people in jail have a mental health issue, compared to 23 percent of the general population. An estimated 58 percent of people in prison have a substance use disorder, compared to 18 percent of the general population. Reduced mental health and addiction support increases the likelihood of arrests, perpetuating costly and ineffective criminal justice cycles
// Victim Support
Federal Funding Cuts Devastate Crime Victim Support
The Department of Justice is undermining decades of bipartisan support for crime victims by slashing critical grant funding. Critical victim support programs have been forced to lay off staff and reduce essential services for vulnerable communities. Funding cuts threaten to perpetuate cycles of trauma and reduce victims' confidence in the justice system.
// Impact on Victims
$50 Million in Grants Canceled for Victim Services
Eliminates crucial support for survivor assistance programs including emergency housing support, counseling services, legal navigation assistance, and compensation for crime-related expenses. A 40% Budget Cut for Activating Change has had a devastating impact on disability support services.
// Vulnerable Communities
Those Most Affected by Cuts
Vulnerable communities bear the brunt of these cuts: victims with disabilities, lower income communities and communities of color, immigrant survivors, and low-resource populations are losing access to critical services they depend on for safety and recovery.
In the news
Violence Prevention Cuts Make Headlines
These stories make clear that these cuts are shortsighted and bad for public safety
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