Defining CVI: A Critical Review of Current Conceptualizations and Their Implications for Policy, Research and Practice

Abstract

Community Violence Intervention (CVI) operates at the critical intersection of public health and public safety, offering a community-driven approach to reducing violence while addressing its root causes. Grounded in principles of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and social determinants of health, CVI reframes violence as a public health crisis rather than solely a criminal justice issue. Despite its promise and demonstrated impact, the field of CVI faces challenges that reflect broader gaps in public health policy. A lack of standardized definitions and measurement frameworks has led to fragmented policies, inconsistent funding, and difficulties in scaling evidence-informed approaches. These issues mirror struggles seen in other public health initiatives, where misalignment between research, practice, and policy weakens long-term sustainability. Without a clearly communicated conceptualization, CVI programs risk being co-opted into enforcement-driven models that dilute their public health foundation. This policy insight explores the challenges with definitional and measurement inconsistencies across the field of CVI and what they reveal about broader public health policy challenges. The authors argue that the field must adopt a unified framework that thoughtfully reflects its historical foundations, prioritizes practitioner expertise, and employs evaluation methods that fully capture its impact. By positioning CVI as a pillar of both public health and public safety, policymakers can move beyond reactionary approaches to violence and invest in long-term, community-driven strategies that promote safety and healing.