The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) and its partners have worked to create and provide technical assistance to Offices of Violence Prevention (OVP) and Neighborhood Safety throughout the country for more than 15 years. NICJR worked for nearly two years to organize, plan and coordinate with a group of OVP Directors to plan the creation of a National OVP Network. NICJR is partnering with Advance Peace, Center for American Progress and the Vera Institute to lead this national initiative. Community safety should not be the exclusive province of policing and the criminal justice system. Investments should be made in community based interventions, prevention, and community development.
The National OVP Network serves as a learning community with the goal of significantly increasing the expertise and effectiveness of these city agencies. The Network hosts convenings, provides trainings and presentations on effective violence reduction practices, coordinates cross OVP learning exchanges and site visits, offers leadership and management development, and supports OVPs in growing capacity in data collection and reporting, fund development, and communications/media relations. The network also supports the creation of new OVPs in cities interested in developing such agencies.
Check out the OVP Factsheet to learn more about the purpose, history, and key roles of OVPs in the US.
To learn more about the Network or to join, email novpn@nicjr.org
