Thomas Abt, founding director of the Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction (VRC) and associate research professor at the University of Maryland, is on a mission to reduce community violence in American cities. Drawing on rigorous research and real-world experience, Abt develops evidence-informed strategies that unite city leaders, law enforcement, public health officials, and community-based groups.

Community violence—also known as urban or street violence—is not random. It’s highly concentrated in small groups and geographic hotspots, often tied to gun and gang activity. But its ripple effects extend far beyond those directly involved, impacting entire communities through higher taxes, rising insurance premiums, and declining property values.

Abt explains how targeted, balanced, and fair interventions—backed by a systematic meta-review—offer the most effective path to safer cities. Through the work of the VRC, cities like Knoxville, Boston, and St. Louis are implementing these tailored violence reduction plans and seeing promising results.

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Resources:

• Center for the Study and Practice of Violence Reduction (VRC)

• Systematic Meta-Review: What Works to Reduce Community Violence

• Thomas Abt – University of Maryland Faculty Profile

• Bleeding Out: The Devastating Consequences of Urban Violence—and a Bold New Plan for Peace in the Streets by Thomas Abt