Building Capacity for CBPS Organizations Working to Reduce Violence | CBPS Collective Report

A Guide for Funders, Policymakers and Practitioners

President Biden announced his Administration’s goal to invest $5 billion over eight years for community-based violence prevention. Already the federal team leading this work is looking at evidence-based programs that use a public health approach to public safety rather than solely relying on traditional law enforcement. Promising results are emerging from cities that have already made the shift to investing in community-based public safety as a complementary strategy to law enforcement. State and local governments are looking at creative ways to redirect funding to support this approach. New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged $10M to expand violence interruption programs in four high crime areas. Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka reallocated 5% of the city’s police department budget, totaling almost $11M, as the city is experiencing record lows in crime and major reforms in policing. This report was prepared with funders and policymakers in mind, as they begin to develop violence prevention strategies and make investments in local community efforts. Within, we seek to answer several questions, including:

• What is “Community Based Public Safety”?

• What is the roadmap to help grassroots organizations build capacity?

• How can funders and policymakers expand and deepen the field without perpetuating the structural inequality that exists in violence impacted communities?

This report follows the Collective’s national scan of CBPS initiatives across the country. We are leveraging that insight and feedback from leaders across the country to codify professional standards and best practices. We attempted to harness the intellectual capital of veteran violence prevention practitioners across the country. The Collective conducted one-on-one, in depth interviews with 25 experts in CBPS to inform a snapshot of the state of CBPS in America. The Collective then conducted two half-day retreats with additional expert contributors in order to develop the fundamentals discussed below. The findings are born out of their experiences, expertise and commitment to elevate and grow the profession. Together, we aim to protect the integrity of the work and the practitioners; to never lose sight that this work is as much about social justice as it is about fighting crime; and to reframe what it takes to make communities feel safe.

"What is CBPS? Community Based Public Safety (CBPS) is a clearly defined strategy to create safety in communities. It is a multipronged, relationship- based model in which residents are employed and trained as public safety professionals to create safety in their own neighborhoods.”Aqeela Sherrills, Executive Director, Community Based Public Safety Collective

We hope that policymakers, elected officials, law enforcement and funders who would like to support innovative, cost effective public safety strategies, but are not entirely sure how, can learn from this report. We also hope that emerging CBPS organizations and community leaders interested in advancing new or enhancing existing CBPS can use this report as a frame of reference.

Read the report press release.