![]() Indeed, an Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Report found a trend of population growth in St. Louis, it’s safe to assume that high levels of violence are causing thousands of individuals to leave the city each year, directly affecting the local economy, tax base, and quality of life. A study of violence and population trends in Chicago, which is similarly suffering from population decline, 7 showed that for every murder, 70 local residents move out. Population decline, a top priority of city leaders, 6 is intimately related to community violence. Louis has undergone tremendous changes in the last few decades, reflected by dramatic population changes: the city has seen a nearly 30% decrease in its population since 1980, and a more than 62% decrease since 1950. ![]() Louis, where multiple studies have shown that violence correlates directly to levels of poverty, racial segregation, and patterns of divestment in communities of color. These general trends and principles of community violence all hold true in the City of St. 5 The individuals at the highest risk of engaging in or being victimized by violence are often falling through the cracks of many different public systems, and are hard to reach unless there are well-resourced and intentional strategies to specifically identify these individuals and provide them with tailored, long-term, and intensive support. ![]() It’s also essential to understand that the communities disproportionately experiencing violence have been fundamentally failed and neglected (and at times, actively abused and traumatized) by multiple societal systems, and often are bearing the burden of generational trauma and harm. When it comes to addressing community violence, focus and precision are key. 4 This means that broad, citywide approaches and sweeping enforcement strategies-like “stop and frisk” policing tactics, are unlikely to be effective. Louis stands out.Īs a general principle, there is often a very small number of individuals who drive a substantial portion of serious violent activity in any given city (often less than 1% of a given city’s population accounts for over 50% of violent crime). Louis has consistently been ranked among the most dangerous cities in the United States.” 3 In a country where levels of gun violence are off the charts compared to other developed nations, St. Louis suffers from all these forms of community violence, gun-related violence is by far the most prevalent: in recent years, upwards of 90% of homicides have been committed with a firearm, and nonfatal shootings result in thousands of admissions to local emergency departments and trauma centers each year. “Community violence” is defined by the World Health Organization as “violence between individuals who are unrelated, and who may or may not know each other, generally taking place outside the home.” 2 This includes shootings, homicides, stabbings, physical assaults, and the unnecessary use of force by law enforcement. That is why, while we recognize the larger systems change work that absolutely must be done to address the inequities at the root of community violence, this report is focused primarily on concrete strategies and systems that can help reduce violence in the short term, and that must be woven into the fabric of broader systems change going forward. Louis will be more difficult, as violence is both a symptom and a cause of inequality. ![]() But until the immediate bloodshed is dramatically reduced, progress on any larger social issue in St. Violence is the result of many complex systems and inequities, from segregation and disinvestment in communities of color, to grave disparities in the criminal legal system, among others. Louis leaders and community stakeholders in prioritizing-and funding-the most effective solutions for reducing violence as quickly as possible. In recognition of the fact that this work requires a significant infusion of resources, Giffords staff and partners have also mapped out local, state, and federal funding opportunities to support all of the recommendations made here. Louis and identify strategies that need to either be implemented or scaled up to address this crisis. In June 2021, the Missouri Foundation for Health contracted with the Giffords Community Violence Initiative team to synthesize the information currently known about the scope and nature of the community violence epidemic in the City of St. Louis Countyīrittany Nieto, Jordan Costa, Mike McLively - Nov 04, 2022
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