CincyInsights Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence

The Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) is a multi-agency, collaborative community-based effort aimed at reducing violent crime while strengthening the relationship between communities and law enforcement. The initiative is a focused-deterrence strategy which is modeled after the Boston Gun Project from the mid-1990s. Initiated in 2007, CIRV is designed to quickly and dramatically reduce gun-violence and associated homicides, with sustained reductions over time. As part of CIRV, Cincinnati Police (CPD) partners with community groups, social service providers, and law enforcement groups (at the local, state, and federal levels) to impact gun-related violence through strategic outreach. Using law enforcement intelligence, the CIRV collaborative targets chronic violent offenders affiliated with street groups. Those offenders seeking a more productive lifestyle are provided streamlined social services, training, education, and employment opportunities.