Congrats Joanee!

Save Lives Now! is a St. Louis regional violence reduction initiative working toward one shared goal: saving lives and making communities safer. With continued collaboration and investment, that impact can grow. Learn more: www.ewgateway.org/save-lives-n...

Still far too much murder in the U.S., but this is remarkable progress. H/t @jeffasher.bsky.social

Sustaining violence reduction efforts like Save Lives Now! means investing in public safety, supporting communities, and preventing future harm across the St. Louis region. Saving lives should remain a shared goal. Read the latest coverage here: www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

Here's a nice piece from @tonymess.bsky.social on SaveLivesNow!, an initiative in the St. Louis region supported by @vrcinfo.bsky.social. There and around the country, evidence-informed efforts save lives, but can success be sustained without continued investment? www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

Last week in St. Louis, leaders came together for the Save Lives Now! Collab Lab. Facilitated by the VRC, we heard perspectives from Mayor Cara Spencer, St. Louis County Director of Violence Reduction Thomas Crees, Mission: St. Louis' Jason Watson, and VRC Director @thomasabt.bsky.social

Nice primer on how to "do your own research." I am not a methodologist, so I read many studies this way. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Great to be back in St. Louis and excited for the work ahead!

Check out this valuable resource from the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform Identifying High-Risk Populations for a Public Health Approach to Community Violence Intervention. Access the report here: nicjr.org/files/galler... Join the upcoming webinar: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Here's a good story on correcting progressive overreach on drugs in San Francisco. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/o...

All eyes are on the midterms as Trump uses the gov's full force to supercharge election lies in case he doesn't like the results. NEW: We just published a roadmap for journalists, advocates, and voters outlining what we can do about it. Join us, start here: 🔗 https://protdem.org/executive-override

"At least 12 of the pardoned rioters have since been charged with other serious crimes, including child molestation, assault, harassment, murder plots and charges related to a vicious dog attack." www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/o...

Here's a nice NYT piece on Camden, a violence reduction success story. As you can see, it's not one thing, it's many. It's the police, but not just the police, it's the community as well. Success is hard to reduce to a bumper sticker. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

I'm a week late but this is still a good Sunday, non-crime and justice read from @mattyglesias. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/o...

If you work in the violence reduction field, you already know how social media can catalyze violence IRL. We need to move beyond mere awareness to developing, implementing, and testing concrete strategies.

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

Please read this piece by @dupatton.bsky.social, Joseph Richardson, and myself, following @vrcinfo.bsky.social's symposium and white paper on the same topic. Everyone knows social media accelerates conflicts resulting in violence IRL, but so far responses have been ad hoc. We need to do better.

This is disturbing. But read it anyway. Especially if you're a parent. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/o...

This is disturbing. But read it anyway. Especially if you're a parent. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/o...

This is an amazing, and troubling, Sunday read. Highly recommend. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...

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...

We just released our new white paper on social media and community violence and UMD did a nice writeup on it. Check them both out here and thanks to @progressumd.bsky.social and @everytown.org for their strong support! bsos.umd.edu/featured-con...

Our latest white paper is out on the connection between social media and community gun violence. Take a look and join us for a webinar discussing the paper today at 1pm ET!

Our mission is simple: saving lives by stopping violence, using science. And we're doing it. If you believe in this mission, please consider the VRC on #GivingDayUMD.

Always fight for what's right. Ashamed that my old law firm, Paul Weiss, didn't. I think it will be the end of the firm, and it should be. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/o...

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

Thursday!

Join us!

"The willingness of Good and Pretti to put themselves in danger for the cause of racial justice proved an unparalleled galvanizing force, one that simultaneously affirms the best about America, and the worst." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/m...

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....

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....

@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/...

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...

I'm proud to say @vrcinfo.bsky.social has partnered with 4 of the 9 mayors profiled here. We provide nonpartisan training and technical assistance FOR FREE to mayors looking to save lives by stopping violent crime. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

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...

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 Council on Criminal Justice just released its 2025 crime trends report. Read the whole report, but are some highlights are below. counciloncj.org/crime-trends...

"An administration that campaigned on fighting crime and improving public safety has terminated, redirected, or delayed more than $1 billion in federal grants related to gun violence, public safety, mental health, and other efforts to save lives." www.thetrace.org/2026/01/trum...

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...

Every MLK day I try to read a speech by King. This morning it was "The Three Evils of Society," in which King calls out poverty, racism and militarism in American society. Take a look - it's worth a read on any day - and give some thought to his words below. www.scribd.com/doc/13436224...

I am now an Associate Professor, which means people from my hometown think I stopped working for a professor but am still in touch with them.

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...

Really proud of the VRC's progress in 2025. On to 2026!

This is great news.

Question: Which cities saw historic lows in violence in 2025? Answer: A lot of them. open.substack.com/pub/jasher/p...

Pleased to be quoted in this @tonymess.bsky.social piece about declining violence in St. Louis. Lots of good work happening and @vrcinfo.bsky.social is pleased to play a role in it. www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...