Violent crime, particularly homicide, rose rapidly in cities across the nation beginning early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the Council found a 30% surge in murders in 2020 compared to the previous year, and a 16% increase for the first half of 2021.

The rise in violence prompted policymakers and practitioners at all levels of government to redouble their search for solutions. In July 2021, CCJ responded by launching the Violent Crime Working Group. Composed of a diverse range of leaders representing community organizations, law enforcement, the public health sector, and academia, the Working Group dedicated itself to saving lives by producing anti-violence guidance that is timely, relevant, and reliable.

In its final report, the Group identified Ten Essential Actions that cities can take now to reduce community gun violence. The list highlights short-term measures that members believe are most likely to make the greatest immediate impact on violence. But Group members cautioned that these actions are not a substitute for longer-term strategies and investments that can address poverty, inequality, racism, and other underlying systemic causes of crime and violence.

Multiple jurisdictions have used the Ten Essential Actions as a framework for their violence reduction efforts. And in December 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice released a “Violent Crime Reduction Roadmap” based explicitly on the blueprint, noting “the breadth of experience of the working group and the widespread uptake of its final report."