The Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction (VRC)
The Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction (VRC) provides practical instruction on choosing, applying, and aligning the right combination of evidence-based strategies that are best suited to a particular jurisdiction’s community violence challenge.
In December 2022, the City of Knoxville partnered with the Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction (VRC) to launch a comprehensive effort to address community violence. The partnership began with a four-day engagement led by VRC Founding Director Thomas Abt, bringing together leaders from faith-based, community-based, governmental, law enforcement, and social service organizations. During this engagement, the VRC presented findings from a detailed problem analysis of all gun homicides and nonfatal shootings from 2019 to 2021, identifying the individuals and networks at highest risk. Through the VRC’s Practicum on Partnership-Based Violence Reduction, participants explored evidence-informed strategies tailored to Knoxville’s needs and discussed their feasibility for local implementation. This process resulted in the development of the Community-Based Violence Reduction Plan—Knoxville’s new, collaborative roadmap to reduce violence through coordinated, data-driven action.
• Violence Reduction Center (VRC)
• Violence Reduction Center (VRC) Practicum
The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR)
The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) works to reduce incarceration and violence, improve the outcomes of system-involved youth and adults, and increase the capacity and expertise of the organizations that serve these individuals.
The City of Knoxville partnered with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) to strengthen its efforts in reducing gun violence through research, training, and technical assistance. NICJR began by conducting a Landscape Analysis of over 15 local programs to assess existing violence prevention efforts, identify service gaps, and highlight promising strategies. Their findings revealed Knoxville’s strong commitment to addressing gun violence, while also underscoring the need for more direct intervention programs targeting those at highest risk. In response, NICJR provided customized trainings—including Custom Notifications, Street Outreach, and Life Coach Implementation—for the Office of Community Safety, Knoxville Police Department, and community partners. This partnership has also led to a Cost of Gun Violence Report, which estimated an annual burden of nearly $100 million and reinforced the financial and social urgency of sustained violence reduction efforts in Knoxville.
• National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR)
• NICJR Reports
Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI)
The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) is a national leader in developing hospital-linked violence intervention programs that connect survivors of violent injury to comprehensive support services. These programs operate at the critical intersection of healthcare and community safety, using the moment of hospitalization as an opportunity to break cycles of violence. By embedding trained intervention specialists within hospitals, HAVI helps patients access trauma-informed care, case management, and wraparound services. HAVI will establish a hospital-linked violence intervention program at UT Medical Center, creating a vital pathway for healing and prevention. This partnership marks a significant step in addressing violence as a public health issue and improving long-term outcomes for those at highest risk.
• Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI)
Knoxville Police Department
The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) continues to play a critical role in the City of Knoxville’s comprehensive violence reduction strategy, working in close partnership with the Office of Community Safety and Empowerment and other key stakeholders. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to holistic, community-informed approaches to public safety. KPD also works with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) to implement national best practices, focusing on building trust, improving coordination, and prioritizing interventions for those at highest risk of involvement in gun violence. Through regular meetings between Chief Paul Noel and Community Safety and Empowerment Officer LaKenya Middlebrook, efforts remain aligned and responsive to emerging needs across the city. Supporting this work is the Public Offense Dashboard—an interactive tool developed by KPD that provides real-time updates on reported offenses. Updated daily, the dashboard enhances transparency and empowers both city officials and residents to make informed, data-driven decisions that contribute to a safer Knoxville.
• Knoxville Police Department Offense Dashboard
• Knoxville Police Department