When engagement fuels harm — Preventing escalation takes alignment among tech platforms, violence interrupters, researchers, law enforcement, and the young people most affected. www.techpolicy.press/social-media... #socialmedia #communityviolence #gunviolence

Smart coordination saves lives — Preventing online violence depends on cross-sector collaboration that prioritizes trust, bringing together tech platforms, violence interrupters, law enforcement, and communities. www.techpolicy.press/social-media... #socialmedia #communityviolence #gunviolence

The time to act is now. Prevention requires coordination and commitment from tech platforms, community violence interrupters, researchers, law enforcement and impacted youth. www.techpolicy.press/social-media... #communityviolence #socialmedia #gunviolence

In high-risk communities, online conflict accelerates offline retaliation, write Thomas Abt, Desmond Patton, and Joseph Richardson. Prevention requires coordination and commitment from tech platforms, community violence interrupters, researchers, law enforcement and impacted youth.

The VRC hosted a Symposium on Social Media and Community Violence. A new paper, “Addressing the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence,” shares conclusions & recommendations. The paper & a recording of the release webinar is now available - vrc.umd.edu/convenings #gunviolence

The VRC is in the news -- A great feature on our new white paper: Addressing the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence. #communityviolence #violence #socialmedia davisvanguard.org/2026/03/viol...

The VRC published "Addressing the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence", a white paper that documents symposium discussions, describes new strategies, proposes pilot programs, and identifies areas for future research. Watch a recording of webinar release: vrc.umd.edu/convenings

The VRC just released a new white paper on social media and community violence and UMD’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences did a nice writeup on it. Our thanks to @progressumd.bsky.social and @everytown.org for supporting this important work. Read here: bsos.umd.edu/featured-con...

Excellent integration of the conclusions and recommendations found in our new white paper Addressing the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence. Thanks to Crime and Justice News for the attribution. Read here: crimjj.wordpress.com/2026/03/06/s...

Thank you to everyone who joined today’s webinar. A central theme: young people are domain experts in digital spaces. Their insight and partnership are essential to effective online violence prevention. We’re grateful to our co-sponsors, @everytown.org and @progressumd.bsky.social.

Curious about the role social media plays in community gun violence? Read the UMD’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences article highlighting key insights and recommendations from our new white paper: bsos.umd.edu/featured-con... Join us for our webinar! umd.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Our white Paper, Addressing the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence is now live! vrc.umd.edu/sites/vrc.um... Join us today for a live webinar about the paper. Register here: umd.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Thank You Symposia Sponsors @everytown.org and @progressumd.bsky.social

Tomorrow at 1 PM ET, the VRC will host a live webinar on the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence. Join us: umd.zoom.us/meeting/regi... Picture features: Citizens Crime Commission of New York City Director of Violence Prevention Research and Strategic Programming, Jai Thomas

Today is #GivingDayUMD - but the VRC’s work continues. We connect research and practitioners to support communities impacted by gun violence. Support this work today: giving.umd.edu/make-a-gift?... The VRC and UMD’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences are grateful for your support.

Don’t miss your opportunity to join our webinar on March 5th at 1 PM EST. Register now to be part of this important conversation: umd.zoom.us/meeting/regi... Photo features: Retired @nypdnews.bsky.social Assistant Commissioner, Kevin O'Connor

Firearm violence is the leading cause of death for US children & teens and disproportionately impacts Black & Latino youth. Social media disputes can fuel these conflicts, but platforms can take steps to help prevent them. Report: www.bradyunited.org/resources/re...

There's less than one week left to register for our upcoming webinar on Social Media and Community Violence. Sign up to join us at 1PM ET on March 5th. umd.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

The study by Anthony A. Braga, Brandon Turchan, and David Weisburd is an updated systematic review of focused deterrence strategies. Focused deterrence was linked to a 23.7 percent drop in violent crime and a 25.1 percent reduction in violent firearm crime. Read the study: doi.org/10.1111/1745...

We're hosting a webinar to mark the release of our new white paper, Addressing the Role of Social Media in Catalyzing Community Gun Violence. The discussion features leaders from research, public safety, practice and youth perspectives. Register here umd.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

The VRC is hosting a webinar on March 5th to launch our Social Media White Paper. Join the experts as they share key recommendations and explore how digital violence impacts real life. Registration link coming soon! Photo features @progressumd.bsky.social Co-Director, Joseph B. Richardson, PhD

Is this the ONLY thing cities should do? Of course not. In our work with cities, @vrcinfo.bsky.social recommended focused deterrence to 3 of 4 current partners, all of whom are successfully pursuing it. But we've recommended other strategies as well. vrc.umd.edu/practice

A very important study with practical significance for the field of violence reduction was just published in Criminology & Public Policy. Read on. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's latest report profiles @cityofoakland.bsky.social and Indianapolis showing how each city achieved consecutive years of reduced homicides and how concrete, actionable approaches can be replicated. Read the full report: nicjr.org/files/galler...

The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's Group Violence Reduction Strategy includes combining data-driven identification, respectful engagement, intensive relationship-based supports, focused enforcement when necessary, and performance tracking. Read here: nicjr.org/files/galler...

@ucdaviscvp.bsky.social spoke with 45 community violence prevention specialists (CVPS) to explore their role in preventing violence. Their proximity and perspective provide valuable guidance to inform and strengthen violence reduction efforts. Read more: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Check out VRC Director @thomasabt.bsky.social interview on the Chris and Amy show on @kmoxnews.bsky.social, where he discusses St. Louis's encouraging progress in violence reduction through the regional Save Lives Now! initiative. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sHN...

An important new report from the Council on Criminal Justice on the continued decline of crime rates in 40 U.S. cities:

Agree with this. @vrcinfo.bsky.social and others have been pushing these polices for the past few years and it's made a difference. Read the whole @nytimes.com piece, based on the @counciloncj.org's excellent new report. counciloncj.org/crime-trends...

The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform released The Successful Gun Violence Reduction Strategy, outlining an evidence-based approach that supports sustained reductions in gun violence nationwide. Learn how cities use data to create safer communities. Read: nicjr.org/files/galler...

The VRC recognizes Knoxville’s progress in public safety. According to preliminary 2025 crime data, homicides declined 26%, reaching the city's lowest total since 2016. Non-fatal shootings fell 27% in 2025, following a 45% reduction the prior year. Report: knoxvilletnpolice.gov/wp-content/u...

St.Louis reached its lowest homicide total since 2013. These ongoing reductions reflect regional collaboration, including St. Louis’s adoption of the evidence-based Save Lives Now! initiative to reduce homicides. The VRC is proud to support these efforts. Read here: www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

In 2025 the VRC deepened its impact. Highlights included hosting the Social Media Symposium; expanding partnerships to five cities, including Memphis and @atlantageorgia.bsky.social; presenting at the American Society of Criminology conference; and welcoming our Deputy Director. A year of growth!

VRC Director @thomasabt.bsky.social recently spoke with @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social on @npr.org about violence reduction in Baltimore and nationwide. Across the country, evidence-informed, community-informed strategies are having an impact. www.npr.org/2026/01/01/n....

Looking at the historic reduction in US homicides from many angles. I appreciate the Real-Time Crime Index data - 12-month rolling trends for 570 cities 2018-2025. But this graph from U Chicago Crime Lab made me appreciate what Baltimore and St Louis have accomplished from their peak to 2025.

Here are 2 great articles on Baltimore, a city on track to have the lowest annual homicides since the 70s. The 1st focuses on the city's highly success GVRS strategy and law enforcement, the 2nd emphasizes proven supports and services. Both are critically important.

2025 will be historic in terms of crime and violence reduction. Murder will drop by the largest one-year percentage ever recorded and fall to levels we haven't seen since the 60s.

It was a full house last night! The VRC is energized by the thoughtful dialogue helping shape public safety. We appreciate everyone who joined, including representatives from @durhamcounty.bsky.social and @cityofdurhamnc.bsky.social. Photos feature Mayor Leonardo Williams and @thomasabt.bsky.social.

The VRC is excited to join @cityofdurhamnc.bsky.social and @durhamcounty.bsky.social's strategy and learning session on violence reduction. @thomasabt.bsky.social will present highlighting how data-driven, community-centered interventions can reduce violence. We look forward to the conversation.

We’re excited to welcome Amber Parker as the VRC’s new Deputy Director! Amber brings decades of experience in justice reform, violence prevention, and community safety, having worked across federal, state, and local systems. Read the full announcement below! www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

The Violence Reduction Center is excited to join @cityofdurhamnc.bsky.social and @durhamcounty.bsky.social as they launch the first phase of their Violence Reduction Plan. We’re grateful to be part of this effort to build a safer future for all communities. Read here: hoodline.com/2025/12/durh...

“What if I told you social media isn’t just a platform but a neighborhood?"- @dupatton.bsky.social, keynote speaker at our symposium. A leading researcher on social media and community gun violence, his work is reshaping how we approach digital spaces in violence prevention. White paper coming soon!

This #GivingTuesday, join us in helping cities save lives by stopping violence. Our partners are outperforming national averages for violence reduction, and our research is moving the field towards approaches that are both effective and fair. Donate now! giving.umd.edu/make-a-gift?...

A thoughtful op-ed from @startribune.com highlighting the framework Director @thomasabt.bsky.social presents in Bleeding Out. Addressing violence effectively requires focus, balance, and fairness. Read here: www.startribune.com/twin-cities-...

Detroit is looking for a new Director of Community Violence Intervention. See the link below. www.risehigherdetroit.com/jobs

VRC Director, @thomasabt.bsky.social highlighted the VRC's white paper on Community Violence Problem Analysis (CVPA) at the National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms. CVPA is a key tool to reduce fatal & nonfatal shootings. Read here: vrc.umd.edu/sites/vrc.um...

Very pleased to see Knoxville's Project TLC recognized by both @bloombergcities.bsky.social and the IACP (links below). Kudos to Mayor Kincannon, Chief Noel, LaKenya Middlebrook and all the amazing folks who helped make it happen. The @vrcinfo.bsky.social is proud to partner with you!

Decades of rigorous research on gun violence interventions exist, but evidence is scattered. An updated meta-review is underway and was highlighted at the 2025 National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms by @thomasabt.bsky.social. Campbell Protocol: tinyurl.com/653rdh4d

At @vrcinfo.bsky.social, we seem to be particularly effective at doing this, and the initial results (we believe in rigorous evaluation so don't want to oversell) are promising.

This piece celebrates the work of community violence intervention, which is good and important, but I would have liked more acknowledgement that crime is also falling because of the work of law enforcement. In fact... www.washingtonpost.com/nation/inter...

At our Social Media Symposium last week, the VRC hosted panels with youth, law enforcement, community-based workers, and researchers to discuss solutions to community violence in the digital age. Keep an eye out for our white paper offering actionable insights!