New data show violent crime fell 50-70% in areas served by 2 of Detroit’s ShotStoppers groups

• Two ShotStopper groups – Force Detroit and Detroit Friends & Family – generated largest violence reductions, qualifying them for CVI program’s first-ever performance bonuses
• Performance bonuses provided to allow groups with successful strategies to further invest in their programming.
• Four of six Community Violence Intervention (CVI) groups achieved steep reductions in homicides and shootings in program’s 2^nd Quarter, compared to one-year prior
• Second quarterly reporting period started Nov. 1, 2023 and ended Jan. 31, 2024

New data from Detroit’s ShotStoppers community violence intervention (CVI) program show that four of the City’s six CVI Zones – areas that consistently experience the most violent crime – saw significant reductions in homicides and non-fatal shootings during the program’s second quarter, Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison announced today.

The report looks at homicides and shootings in the CVI and non-CVI areas for the timeframe of November 1, 2023 - January 31, 2024 and compares them against the same period one year earlier. The report shows that four of the ShotStopper areas experienced violence reductions of at least 27%, however, two of them – served by Detroit Friends & Family and FORCE Detroit – saw reductions of approximately 50% and 70% respectively.  The average violence reduction outside the six CVI Zones for the same timeframe was 37%.

“Mayor Duggan, with the support of our City Council, asked us to take a new approach to reducing violent crime by letting organizations that are known and trusted in the community implement their own strategies,” said Deputy Mayor Bettison, who is leading the project.  “While still early in the program, the results show immense promise. Every quarter is a chance for us to see which strategies are working and how adjustments can be made and we are very encouraged by the results so far.”  

While many cities around the country provide funding for CVI programs, what makes the City of Detroit so unique is its performance-based approach that measures and rewards outcomes.  Bettison says based on the results so far, the City will extend the program for another year for the four groups that achieved significant declines in their second quarter.

Through the ShotStoppers initiative, six community-based organizations are implementing their own violence prevention strategies in a defined “CVI Zone,” serving neighborhoods hardest hit by violence. 

Two groups earn performance incentives

Groups are measured by the number of homicides and non-fatal shootings in their Zone compared to areas of the City not served by CVI and can earn significant performance grants by achieving reductions.

In the second quarter of the program, two ShotStoppers earned performance grants:

1. FORCE Detroit earned a performance grant of $175,000 for achieving a 72% reduction homicides and non-fatal shootings in its westside CVI Zone that includes the Warrendale and Franklin Park neighborhoods.
2. Detroit Friends and Family earned a performance grant of $87,500 for a 48% violence reduction in its eastside CVI Zone that includes the Outer Drive-Hayes neighborhood and nearby areas.

“We are excited that we are seeing strong results so early in the program,” said Deputy Mayor Bettison. “Providing these performance incentives will allow the groups receiving them to reinvest in their strategies to expand and improve upon them.”

The six ShotStoppers groups began work on August 1, 2023, with much of the first quarter dedicated to program start-up. During the second quarter, the program began to show results, with four groups achieving declines comparable to or greater than the citywide trend:

How ShotStoppers works

ShotStoppers is made possible with a $10 million investment from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. Each ShotStoppers group receives a base budget of $175,000 per quarter to implement their violence prevention strategy. Each group can earn up to $175,000 more in performance grants each quarter by achieving reductions in violence. While each group’s strategy varies, many use staff with lived experience of violence to intervene and peacefully resolve disputes before they turn violent, as well as mentor at-risk individuals to help them pursue other paths.

Performance is measured by comparing the “CVI Score” – equal to homicides multiplied by two plus non-fatal shootings – within each group’s Zone to the same quarter during the prior year. To earn a performance grant, a grantee must 1) reduce the CVI Score below its prior-year level and 2) achieve a decline at least 10 percentage points greater than the decline in areas of the City not served by CVI. Groups that beat the citywide trend by 10 – 19 percentage points earn $87,500, and groups that beat the trend by 20 percentage points or more earn $175,000 for that quarter.

Based on the program results so far, Mayor Duggan and Deputy Mayor Bettison plan to extend the program for one year (from summer 2024 through summer 2025) for four groups: FORCE Detroit, Detroit Friends and Family, New Era Community Connection, and Detroit People’s Community.

In addition, the Administration will extend the program for three months (from summer 2024 through early fall 2024) for the other two ShotStoppers groups: Detroit 300 and Wayne Metro/Denby Alliance/Camp Restore. This extension will provide the groups additional time to implement, refine, and measure their strategies, with the goal of achieving the types of reductions seen in other Zones.