Detroit has saw a 45 per cent drop in gun violence through the ShotStoppers program. That is a decrease in both homicides and non-fatal shootings over the last three years. ShotStoppers is a community violence intervention program, which the city says is to empower community members to disrupt violence in their neighbourhoods. It is separate from law enforcement response. The University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions evaluated the program and said in the second year of the program, Community Violence Intervention (CVI_ zones saw a 33 per cent decrease in homicide victimizations and a 38 per cent decrease in nonfatal shooting victimizations from August 2024 to July 2025, compared to the previous year. The rest of the city in the same timeframe dropped 12 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. “Addressing community violence is linked to expanding economic opportunity for Detroiters,” said Sam Stragand, senior program manager of Poverty Solutions’ Detroit Partnership on Economic Mobility. Stragand worked on the evaluation of ShotStoppers. “Exposure to neighbourhood violence adversely affects children’s mental and physical health, educational performance, and employment prospects, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.” Detroit gives each CVI team $175,000 per quarter to support efforts to lower the number of homicides and nonfatal shootings in their areas. There are seven total CVI teams. They can then earn up to an additional $175,000 quarterly in performance-based bonuses. “This study from the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions shows that Detroit’s CVI program is contributing to historic reductions in violent crime and safer neighbourhoods,” said Michael Peterson, Detroit’s CVI program director. “Having trusted community organizations intervene in situations that could escalate into violence has proven remarkably effective in preventing potentially tragic outcomes.” The study said the teams use two strategies: Interventions with individuals at high risk of involvement with gun violence Broader community engagement with resource provision “Once you get one high-risk individual, it only takes one, then you are in the gang,” said a CVI team leader. “Because barbers know barbers, nurses know nurses, educators know educators. They’re in the same networks. So the goal is if you are able to leverage your relationship with the high-risk, they’ll bring others along and refer you, and they’ll educate you about the others. That’s the whole point of why we were so big on that.” Detroit says there are more local governments nation-wide participating in the CVI program.
