Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative: ICJIA and DHS/OFVP Collaboration

The State of Illinois observed a higher increase in violent crime rates at 4.3 incidents per 1,000, compared to 4.0 per 1,000 nationwide per the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) 2021 Report. This is the second consecutive year violent crime rates have risen and the third year the state reported higher rates than both the East North Central region of the country (with 3.9 incidents per 1,000) and the United States overall. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) and Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (IDHS-OFVP) are state agencies that are currently collaborating and leveraging each other’s resources to effectively support vulnerable communities most at risk of violence. Through a shared mission of fostering public safety through an evidence-based and strategic approach, we are seeking funding support of $4 million under the BJA FY23 Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) grant to expand this work in Illinois. ICJIA and OFVP will rely on data analysis provided by ICJIA’s Research and Analysis group and considerations from the Intergovernmental Partnership (IGP) in Illinois, which will also serve as the multidisciplinary team for this grant. This partnership of the City of Chicago’s Mayor’s Office (MO) and Department of Public Health-Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC), ICJIA, and OFVP developed a strategic plan for the administration of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds among violence prevention and youth development organizations in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois. Collectively, we look at gaps in statewide violence prevention and victim support efforts and reconcile identified gaps in the statewide approach with identified evidence-based CVI strategies that will reduce violence and enhance victim support to individuals and communities identified at the highest risk. ICJIA and OFVP will access this established collaborative of key governmental stakeholders and its associated resources and networks to support this grant in terms of program and community analysis, identification of statewide funding/programming gaps that specifically address violence prevention and victimization, and analysis of our strategic funding resource plan measuring key objectives that will demonstrate our plan’s impact, any emerging pronounced themes through our planning and implementation, learned lessons, and recommendations of note.