Policy
The newly-established VRC is currently focused on developing products and services for anti-violence research and practice. That said, VRC staff have advised hundreds of leaders on improving policies to save lives at the local, state, national, and international levels. Key resources are provided below, and this section will be expanded over time.
VRC Policy Resources
Testimony before House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance.
Thomas Abt, 2023.
Abt’s testimony explores Washington, DC’s unique local/federal hybrid structure and offers concrete recommendations for addressing the city’s violent crime problem.
The U.S. Knows How to Reduce Violent Crime.
Thomas Abt, 2022. Wall Street Journal.
Amid rising crime rates, US cities should move past partisan politics and use evidence-based strategies.
Testimony before House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Thomas Abt, 2022.
This article covers issues to consider when re-imagining criminal justice in the Covid-19 era, advocating for the use of evidence-informed strategies for reducing community gun violence.
Necessary but Not Sufficient: The Police Role in Reducing Violence.
Thomas Abt, 2021. Police Chief Magazine
This article is a call to police chiefs across the United States to more seriously address community gun violence.
Protests Focus on Over-Policing, But Under-Policing is Also Deadly.
Rod Brunson, 2020. Washington Post.
While much attention has been paid to police maintaining a disproportionately large presence in disadvantaged communities, an often overlooked but important issue is that the same communities often do not receive the police services they need.