Community-Based Violence Intervention and Social Justice: An Exploration of Benefits Beyond Violence Reduction

Abstract

Community violence interventions (CVIs) that involve individuals from affected communities in the organization and provision of services have the potential to create positive impacts on social justice beyond violence reduction. We explore the potential of these programs to enhance social justice, above and beyond their assumed violence reduction impact, and how one may potentially measure this impact. To illustrate the point, we discuss three CVI models: Cure Violence, Advance Peace, and the Rapid Employment and Development Initiative.