National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform

Caps - the coalition to advance public safety (caps) was established in 2022. Through caps, nicjr partnered with the health alliance for violence intervention, the community based public safety collective, and cities united to greatly expand and strengthen violence reduction work across eight jurisdictions over the course of five years. During fiscal year 2025 (fy25), nicjr and the other caps partners continued to provide training, technical assistance, and funding to the first cohort of caps cities (baltimore, baton rouge, indianapolis, and newark-with nicjr serving as the lead in baltimore and indianapolis). We also began to provide similar support the second caps cohort, which included atlanta, los angeles, milwaukee, and oakland (with nicjr serving as the lead in oakland).

Cvipi - in late 2024, nicjr was chosen to serve as an intermediary organization in the federal community violence intervention and prevention initiative (cvipi). This role involved awarding $250,000 subgrants and providing training and technical assistance to five grassroots community-based organizations focused on community violence prevention. Nicjr selected five subgrantees through a competitive request for proposals, awarded the funding, and developed custom training and technical assistance plans based on thorough assessment. This award was cancelled by the federal government in the spring of 2025, when we were in the early stages of training and technical assistance provision.

Novpn - nicjr launched the national offices of violence prevention network (novpn) in february 2021 with 21 member agencies. As of june 30, 2025, membership had grown to include 78 local and state-level agencies. The novpn strives to increase the expertise and effectiveness of local and state offices of violence prevention and other similar agencies by growing a national learning community that employs innovative and evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence in geographically and culturally relevant ways. During fy25, nicjr provided generalized training and technical assistance to eight novpn member jurisdictions and specialized training and technical assistance to seven novpn member jurisdictions, with support grounded in the specific needs and priorities of each site. We also hosted the third annual novpn convening, which took place in los angeles from september 17-19, 2024. It brought together more than 130 attendees from 45 jurisdictions. Attendees participated in site visits to city of los angeles gang reduction and youth development and la build; engaged in panel discussions and learning sessions; and enjoyed a network mixer.