Solutions

How We Fix This

Gun violence is often portrayed as an intractable problem, but a growing body of evidence shows that there are existing interventions that can save lives right now. These programs rarely get the careful, sustained attention they deserve. This project seeks to change that.

Gun Policy

The Year in Gun Violence Solutions

In the final Trajectory of 2023, reporter Chip Brownlee takes stock of the most encouraging developments on our beat.

Chip Brownlee

More reporting on solutions

The Trajectory

Our biweekly newsletter features existing and emerging responses to the gun violence crisis.

Baltimore Looks to Its Parks Department to Help Save Kids From Gunfire

Community Violence

Baltimore Looks to Its Parks Department to Help Save Kids From Gunfire

Amid a troubling increase in the number of children being shot, the city is investing in safe spaces and after-school programming.

J. Brian Charles
Hospital-Based Intervention Can Save Lives. A Growing Movement Is Betting on Medicaid to Fund It.

Health Care

Hospital-Based Intervention Can Save Lives. A Growing Movement Is Betting on Medicaid to Fund It.

The Biden administration has quietly backed an idea that recently became law in Connecticut. Advocates say they hope more states will soon follow.

Chip Brownlee
New York to Roll Out Pioneering Violence Prevention Program That Involves Financial Incentives

Community Violence

New York to Roll Out Pioneering Violence Prevention Program That Involves Financial Incentives

The Advance Peace model, which pairs young people with mentors and rewards them for reaching life goals, has achieved positive outcomes in other cities. It's about to face its biggest test yet.

Champe Barton
Baltimore Bets on a New Type of First Responder: The Librarian

Community Violence

Baltimore Bets on a New Type of First Responder: The Librarian

After a devastating shooting in a public space, officials embarked on a plan to train city employees — and residents — in alleviating grief and trauma. The work starts this summer, at the library.

J. Brian Charles
The American Rescue Plan Is Officially Funding Gun Violence Prevention

Gun Policy

The American Rescue Plan Is Officially Funding Gun Violence Prevention

The Oregon county that encompasses Portland is one of the first local governments to tap the new federal stimulus to reduce shootings.

Jennifer Mascia
Inside One Baltimore Group’s Effort to Stop Youth Violence Before It Starts

Community Violence

Inside One Baltimore Group’s Effort to Stop Youth Violence Before It Starts

Violence can break out in a matter of seconds. But Roca measures success in years, focusing on changing young people's mindsets.

J. Brian Charles
Lori Lightfoot Promised Chicago’s Violence Reduction Committee Would Be Transparent. Its One Meeting So Far Was Closed to the Public.

Community Violence

Lori Lightfoot Promised Chicago’s Violence Reduction Committee Would Be Transparent. Its One Meeting So Far Was Closed to the Public.

Some anti-violence groups were surprised to learn the task force had met at all. Others want to know why the committee doesn’t include more grassroots programs and community members.

Lakeidra Chavis
Promising Crime Solutions Are Being Undermined by Flawed Federal Ratings, Researchers Say

Criminal Justice

Promising Crime Solutions Are Being Undermined by Flawed Federal Ratings, Researchers Say

While local leaders seek answers to a sharp rise in violent crime, experts worry the Justice Department’s CrimeSolutions clearinghouse may be holding back effective programs.

Champe Barton
The Push to Pay Violence Interrupters a Living Wage

Community Violence

The Push to Pay Violence Interrupters a Living Wage

Groups that mediate conflicts before they escalate say their outreach workers are barely getting by.

Jennifer Mascia
The Violence Interrupter in the Mayor’s Office

Politics

The Violence Interrupter in the Mayor’s Office

Brandon Scott believes that outreach workers and social services are as important as the police in reducing Baltimore's gun violence. But political obstacles loom.

J. Brian Charles

Gun violence journalism that informs and empowers.

How We Fix This

The Year in Gun Violence Solutions

More reporting on solutions

The Trajectory

Baltimore Looks to Its Parks Department to Help Save Kids From Gunfire

Hospital-Based Intervention Can Save Lives. A Growing Movement Is Betting on Medicaid to Fund It.

New York to Roll Out Pioneering Violence Prevention Program That Involves Financial Incentives

Baltimore Bets on a New Type of First Responder: The Librarian

The American Rescue Plan Is Officially Funding Gun Violence Prevention

Inside One Baltimore Group’s Effort to Stop Youth Violence Before It Starts

Lori Lightfoot Promised Chicago’s Violence Reduction Committee Would Be Transparent. Its One Meeting So Far Was Closed to the Public.

Promising Crime Solutions Are Being Undermined by Flawed Federal Ratings, Researchers Say

The Push to Pay Violence Interrupters a Living Wage

The Violence Interrupter in the Mayor’s Office