“You Never Know Who’s Gonna Be Next”: The Role of Community Violence Intervention Workers in Responding to Homicides and Survivor Support

Abstract

The racial and spatial concentration of homicides coupled with the low levels of protection, safety, and accountability afforded to surviving family, friends, and community members raises the question of who is capable of accompanying impacted individuals and negotiating safety in the aftermath of violent death. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) workers are a growing professional field of indigenous peacemakers who lead community-based efforts to both prevent and intervene violence. The current study presents original, novel research engaging CVI workers’ experiences responding to homicides to prevent retaliation and support survivors and how persistently responding to violent death in their community impacts their wellbeing. This exploratory study involved 35 in-depth, qualitative interviews with CVI workers and their supervisors in Chicago, IL. Thematic analysis indicates they are “first among first responders” and are critical information intermediaries to designate appropriate violence prevention and intervention strategies. CVI workers also experience traumatic grief, largely associated by their relationship and proximity to homicide victims. The implications highlight the distinctive contributions of CVI workers in formulating more comprehensive, community-based post-homicide strategies aimed at supporting marginalized survivors and communities disproportionately affected by violence.