Northwest Wayne News

New data from Detroit’s ShotStoppers community violence intervention (CVI) program reveal remarkable progress in reducing violent crime in the city. According to Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, four of the City’s six CVI Zones witnessed substantial decreases in homicides and non-fatal shootings during the program’s second quarter.

Deputy Mayor Bettison highlighted the success of the program, stating, “While still early in the program, the results show immense promise. Every quarter is a chance for us to see which strategies are working and how adjustments can be made, and we are very encouraged by the results so far.”

The report compared violence reduction in the CVI and non-CVI areas from November 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, against the same period one year earlier. It revealed that two of the ShotStopper areas experienced remarkable reductions, with Detroit Friends & Family and FORCE Detroit achieving reductions of approximately 50% and 70% respectively.

Mayor Duggan's unique performance-based approach to tackling violent crime in Detroit has proven successful. Bettison announced that the City will extend the program for another year for the four groups that achieved significant declines in the second quarter.

Incentivizing success, two ShotStoppers groups, FORCE Detroit and Detroit Friends and Family, were awarded performance grants for their outstanding achievements. FORCE Detroit received a grant of $175,000 for a 72% reduction in homicides and non-fatal shootings, while Detroit Friends and Family earned $87,500 for a 48% violence reduction in their respective CVI Zones.

Deputy Mayor Bettison expressed excitement about the early success of the program, emphasizing that the performance incentives will allow the groups to reinvest in their strategies to further expand and enhance their impact.

ShotStoppers, funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, equips community-based organizations with the resources to implement violence prevention strategies in high-risk neighborhoods. The program's success is measured by comparing each group’s “CVI Score” to the prior year, with performance grants awarded for significant reductions in violence.

Based on the positive outcomes observed, Mayor Duggan and Deputy Mayor Bettison plan to extend the program for another year for four groups, with additional time granted to the remaining two groups to refine and enhance their strategies. The ultimate goal is to achieve substantial reductions in violence across all CVI Zones, building safer communities for all residents.