cvp

Featured Social Impact Research

Centers for Violence Prevention

For more than 30 years, the Centers for Violence Prevention (CVP) have been at the forefront of violence prevention research, developing knowledge and driving change.

Comprising the Violence Prevention Research Program and the California Firearm Violence Research Center, CVP conducts rigorous, interdisciplinary, and actionable research on the causes, consequences, and prevention of violence. Enhanced by engaging in education and policy development, CVP research has led to real-world impacts culminating in lives saved.

The timeline below demonstrates the significant decrease in California’s firearm death rates over the past 30+ years and the way the CVP’s work has contributed to this reduction.

Bold New Frontiers

Building on decades of CVP research, the centers’ interdisciplinary team is expanding in size and scope, addressing violence prevention from new angles. 

Re-envisioning community violence prevention as a community safety and health ecosystem, guided by those most impacted:

• Wraparound program partnership and evaluation findings supported the launch of Sacramento’s first comprehensive trauma recovery center
• $3 million grant for nationwide mentorship/ training initiative with the Black & Brown Collective for Community Solutions to Gun Violence, cofounded by CVP faculty
• $1.6 million awarded to co-develop a practitioner-centered evaluation framework for community violence intervention

Leveraging social and economic policies for violence prevention:

• $2.4 million to evaluate how housing policies and anti-poverty tax credits affect violence outcomes

Showing how AI can use big data to predict and prevent violence:

• To predict likelihood of firearm suicide
• To improve equity and prison release rates
• To prevent firearm trafficking

Teaching firearm owners how to be safe in a mental health crisis with development of BulletPoints Project community training program

• 1,800+ viewed BulletPoints community training in its first year online

View the full-size, interactive image.

Text of Timeline

Over the last 30+ years, California firearm death rates have significantly decreased compared to the average of the other 49 states.

In the US, approximately 45,000 lives are lost annually to gun violence. More than twice as many people are shot and survive. US firearm deaths and injuries lead to annual costs upwards of $500 billion.

How CVP Research Results in Real World Change

• Community and public health: violence prevention and reduction, development of public health practices
• Policy: subject matter expertise and guidance lead to policy change and legislative action 
• Economic: investment in violence prevention reduces the societal and financial burden of violence
• Clinical: development of guidelines and trainings for clinicians

Centers for Violence Prevention Timeline

1980s

Gun deaths per 100k (1989)

• California - 16.5
• Rest of US - 13.9

Building on the work of his mentors, CVP founding director Garen Wintemute co-authors the first review on US firearm violence epidemiology (1983). This and subsequent studies help to frame firearm violence as a public health problem that requires societal-level solutions.

Wintemute later testifies before the CA legislature (1989), sharing research and leading CA to adopting its assault weapons ban. In 1994, he provides technical assistance on the federal assault weapons ban.

1991

The Violence Prevention Research Program launches, marking the beginning of what is now known as CVP.

1994

CVP report leads to regulatory and industry changes

Ring of Fire report documents how ‘Saturday Night Specials’ (poorly made, inexpensive, unsafe handguns) are disproportionately used in crimes.

CA adopts the first safety standards for handguns, effectively banning ‘Saturday Night Specials’ (1999) and drastically reducing their supply in CA and nationwide.

1996

Severe FUNDING CUTS - yet CVP continues

Dickey Amendment halts most federal firearm injury research support. CVP continues its work despite this, persevering through a nearly 25-year freeze.

2001

CVP Study shows misdemeanor denial Law is effective

CVP finds CA policy denying handgun purchase to people with violent misdemeanor convictions is associated with decreased violent crime arrest risk. This research supports policy adoption in other states.

16 states now restrict firearm access to people convicted of violent or gun-related misdemeanors, laws associated with an 18% reduction in firearm homicides.

2009

CVP Report highlights need for universal background checks

Inside Gun Shows report by CVP details first-hand observations of illegal activity and risky firearm sales to unverified buyers. Findings bolster efforts to require background checks for private party transfers.

Federal legislation expands requirements for background checks.

(2022) 22 states + DC extend background check requirements beyond federal law.

2014

CVP helps CA lead nation in extreme risk laws

CVP provides technical expertise in drafting, the first contemporary extreme risk law in the nation, CA’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) law. The law goes into effect in 2016. 

The Governor cites CVP research in support of $11M in funding for GVRO awareness and education. (2022)

Extreme risk laws now established in 21 states + DC.

2017

The California Firearm Violence Research Center

With a $5M initial investment, the state establishes the California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis. It is the first center of its kind to receive state funding and a cornerstone of what is now CVP.

CVP SURVEY SERVES AS INFORMATION MODEL

The California Safety and Wellbeing Survey fills a gap in state-specific information about firearm ownership and exposure to violence, serving as a model for at least 3 other states.

2019

CVP equips clinicians to reduce firearm injury risk

CVP authors What You Can Do to Stop Firearm Violence essay (2017) prompting 3,600+ physicians to discuss firearm safety with patients.

CVP-affiliated BulletPoints Project develops trainings and tools for healthcare providers to reduce firearm injury risk and emerges as a leading educational resource nationwide.

After BulletPoints training most attendees (93%) reported being likely or very likely to change their clinical practices around firearm injury prevention.

2500+ attended live firearm injury prevention presentations

1200+ have completed continuing education (CE) course

2022

CVP conducts the first nationwide survey to assess personal willingness to engage in political violence

National press engagement on the survey findings gives American public clear guidance on how to help stop political violence from escalating.

CA strengthens extreme risk law to protect against political violence threats (2024).

2023

Gun deaths per 100k

• California - 8.2
• Rest of US - 14.7

If the other 49 states’ gun death rates matched California’s, over 19,000 lives could have been saved in 2023 alone.

The Centers for Violence Prevention’s (CVP) research and expertise have shaped the way violence is studied and prevented, fostering change and contributing to this reduction.