Community Gun Violence
Gun violence disproportionally affects underserved urban communities. The Center is committed to using our expertise and resources to address urban gun violence in Baltimore and across the nation.
The Johns-Hopkins Baltimore Collaborative for Violence Reduction assists the Baltimore Police Department to strengthen police relations with Baltimore residents and improve law enforcement practices. Research in this area looks both at law enforcement strategies and public health strategies like Cure Violence and Safe Streets.
Key Statistic
While gun violence knows no boundaries, neighborhoods where poverty is most concentrated bear the largest brunt of gun homicide, crime, and associated trauma. African American children and teens are 14 times more likely than white children and teens of the same age to die by gun homicide.[1]
“Given the importance of illegal gun possession in contributing to Baltimore’s extraordinarily high rate of homicide and other violent crime that is traumatizing communities, the Baltimore Police Department must focus on combatting illegal gun possession by individuals engaged in violent crime. But it must do so only in a manner that is legal, professional, and acceptable to the communities they serve.”
– Daniel Webster, Center Director
Select JOURNAL ARTICLES
- Educational achievement and youth homicide mortality: a City-wide, neighborhood-based analysis. Bray MJC, Boulos ME, Shi G, MacKrell K, Nestadt PS. Inj Epidemiol. 2020 Jun 8;7(1):20.
- Baltimore’s Underground Gun Market: availability of and access to guns. Crifasi CK, Buggs SAL, Booty MD, Webster DW, Sherman DG. Violence and Gender. 2020 Jun 12. 7(2):78-83.
- Evaluation of a Crisis Intervention Team Pilot Program: Results from Baltimore, MD. D Booty M, G Williams R, K Crifasi C. Community Ment Health J. 2020 Feb;56(2):251-257.
- The Violence Prevention Potential of Reducing Alcohol Outlet Access in Baltimore, MD. Trangenstein P, Eck R, Lu Y, Webster D, Jennings JM, Latkin C, Milam AJ, Furr-Holden D, Jernigan DH. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 2020 Jan; 81:24-33.
- Workplace homicides committed by firearm: recent trends and narrative text analysis. Doucette ML, Bulzacchelli MT, Frattaroli S, Crifasi CK. Inj Epidemiol. 2019 Mar 18;6:5
- Managing Conflicts in Urban Communities: Youth Attitudes Regarding Gun Violence.
Milam AJ, Furr-Holden CD, Leaf P, Webster D. J Interpers Violence. 2018 Dec;33(24):3815-3828. - Outlet Type, Access to Alcohol, and Violent Crime.
Trangenstein PJ, Curriero FC, Webster D, Jennings JM, Latkin C, Eck R, Jernigan DH. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2018 Nov;42(11):2234-2245. - Association between Firearm Laws and Homicide in Urban Counties.
Crifasi CK, Merrill-Francis M, McCourt A, Vernick JS, Wintemute GJ, Webster DW. J Urban Health. 2018 Jun;95(3):383-390. - Changes in Attitudes toward Guns and Shootings following Implementation of the Baltimore Safe Streets Intervention.
Milam AJ, Buggs SA, Furr-Holden CD, Leaf PJ, Bradshaw CP, Webster D. J Urban Health. 2016 Aug;93(4):609-26. - Interrupting violence: how the CeaseFire Program prevents imminent gun violence through conflict mediation.
Whitehill JM, Webster DW, Frattaroli S, Parker EM. J Urban Health. 2014 Feb;91(1):84-95. - Street conflict mediation to prevent youth violence: conflict characteristics and outcomes.
Whitehill JM, Webster DW, Vernick JS. Inj Prev. 2013 Jun;19(3):204-9. - Effects of Baltimore's Safe Streets Program on gun violence: a replication of Chicago's CeaseFire Program.
Webster DW, Whitehill JM, Vernick JS, Curriero FC. J Urban Health. 2013 Feb;90(1):27-40.
Center Reports
- Reducing Violence and Building Trust: Data to Guide Enforcement of Gun Laws in Baltimore
- Estimating the Effects of Law Enforcement and Public Health Interventions Intended to Reduce Gun Violence in Baltimore
News Releases
- Baltimore Liquor Stores Linked More to Violent Crime Than Bars and Restaurants
Wed, 26 Sep 2018 - Handgun Purchaser Licensing Laws Linked To Fewer Firearm Homicides In Large, Urban Areas
Thu, 31 May 2018 - Hot Spot Policing Focused on Guns Is Most Effective Strategy For Reducing Gun Violence in Baltimore, Study Finds
11 Jan 2018