how to reduce crime

Section 1: Top 35 Countries with the Lowest Violent Crime Rate

Source: Gallup World Poll and Global Peace Index (GPI), 2023. Data reflects violent crime rates per 100,000 population for countries with populations exceeding 5 million people.

Source: Gallup World Poll 2023; Institute for Economics and Peace, Global Peace Index 2023.

Data Year: 2023

The United States does not appear in the top 35 countries with the lowest violent crime rates. The United States ranked 129th out of 163 countries in the 2023 Global Peace Index, with a violent crime rate of approximately 16.5 incidents per 100,000 people annually.

This high ranking is attributed to several factors, including widespread access to firearms (with approximately 120 guns per 100 civilians), significant economic inequality (Gini coefficient of 0.41), high poverty rates in urban areas, historical systemic disparities in the criminal justice system, underfunding of mental health services, and fragmented law enforcement policies across 50 states and thousands of local jurisdictions.

The 2023 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting Program reported approximately 380.7 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants for the prior year, encompassing murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

References for Section 1

https://www.gallup.com/analytics/318875/global-research.aspx1. Gallup World Poll:

https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/2. Institute for Economics and Peace, Global Peace Index:

https://ucr.fbi.gov/3. FBI Uniform Crime Reporting:

https://dataunodc.un.org/4. UNODC Crime Statistics:

Section 2: What Other Countries Have Done to Decrease the Violent Crime Rate

The 8 Top Rated Countries with the Lowest Violent Crime Rate

Source: Gallup World Poll 2023; Global Peace Index 2023. Data Year: 2023

Iceland

Iceland consistently ranks as the most peaceful nation in the world. The country employs a holistic, welfare-state approach to crime prevention rooted in its unique cultural homogeneity, strong social cohesion, and comprehensive social safety nets.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

The Icelandic Prevention Model (Planet Youth): Developed by the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis (ICSRA), this evidence-based program organizes organized youth activities to reduce substance abuse and delinquency. The model has been successfully replicated in over 35 countries.

Universal Healthcare and Mental Health Access: Iceland provides free mental health services through the Directorate of Health (Landlaeknir), including community mental health centers.

Strong Social Welfare: The Welfare Ministry provides comprehensive unemployment benefits, housing support, and social services that reduce poverty-related crime drivers.

Community Policing: The National Police Commissioner of Iceland (Logreglan) emphasizes community engagement, with police officers trained in conflict resolution and social work techniques.

Firearm Restrictions: Iceland imposes strict firearms licensing requirements under the Police Act; ownership requires medical certificates and passing of written examinations.

https://www.icsra.ishttps://www.logreglan.ishttps://www.velferdarraduneyti.isOrganizations: Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis (), National Police Commissioner (), Ministry of Welfare ()

Éire (Ireland)

Éire employs a community-based approach to crime prevention, supported by strong social welfare programs and community policing strategies.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

An Garda Siochana Community Policing: Éire / Ireland's national police service implements the Community Policing Forum model, connecting officers with local communities to address root causes of crime through dialogue and partnership.

Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces (LDATF): Funded by the Department of Health, these task forces coordinate responses to substance abuse, a major driver of violent crime. There are 24 task forces covering over 120 communities.

Youth Diversion Projects: The Department of Justice funds over 100 Youth Diversion Projects (YDP) that provide structured activities, education, and mentoring to at-risk youth.

Social Housing and Urban Renewal: The Department of Housing funds RAPID (Revitalizing Areas through Planning, Investment and Development) which targets the most disadvantaged urban areas.

Restorative Justice: Éire / Ireland's Probation Service and Courts Service implement restorative justice programs allowing offenders to make amends to victims, reducing recidivism.

https://www.garda.iehttps://www.justice.iehttps://www.probation.ieOrganizations: An Garda Siochana (), Department of Justice (), Probation Service ()

Danmark (Denmark)

Danmark's low violent crime rate reflects its comprehensive social welfare state, rehabilitative approach to criminal justice, and strong community engagement.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

The SSP Partnership (School, Social Services, Police): This inter-agency collaboration connects schools, social services, and police to identify and intervene with at-risk youth. Established since the 1970s, it remains a cornerstone of Danish crime prevention.

Prison Rehabilitation Programs: The Danish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalforsorgen) emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment. Danish prisons offer education, vocational training, therapy, and family contact programs.

Prevention Council (Det Kriminalpraventive Rad): A national body coordinating crime prevention programs across municipalities, schools, and neighborhoods.

Exit Programs: The National Police and municipalities fund exit programs helping gang members and violent extremists reintegrate into society through counseling and employment assistance.

Housing Integration: Social housing policies prevent the concentration of disadvantaged populations, reducing crime hotspots.

https://www.kriminalforsorgen.dkhttps://www.politi.dkhttps://www.dkr.dkOrganizations: Danmark Prison and Probation Service (), National Police of Danmark (), Det Kriminalpraventive Rad ()

Österreich (Austria)

Österreich's low violent crime rate stems from its strong social welfare system, comprehensive victim support network, and robust criminal justice reforms.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

Victim Protection Centers (Gewaltschutzzentren): Österreich operates nine regional victim protection centers providing legal counseling, safety planning, and support for victims of violent crime and domestic violence.

Anti-Violence Training Programs: The Federal Ministry of the Interior funds mandatory anger management and anti-violence training programs as alternatives to incarceration for first-time offenders.

Probation and Supervision: Neustart, a government-supported non-profit, provides probation supervision, conflict resolution programs, community service coordination, and reintegration support.

Mandatory School Social Work: The Federal Ministry of Education requires social workers in schools to address bullying, substance use, and early behavioral warning signs.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment: Compulsory treatment programs replace imprisonment for drug-related offenses under Österreich's Narcotic Substances Act.

https://www.bmi.gv.athttps://www.neustart.athttps://www.bmbwf.gv.atOrganizations: Federal Ministry of the Interior (), Neustart (), Federal Ministry of Education ()

New Zealand

New Zealand has implemented comprehensive reforms targeting the root causes of violent crime, including poverty, inequality, and lack of access to mental health services.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy: The Ministry of Health implemented a national strategy to reduce alcohol-related violence, including raising the minimum purchase age and restricting advertising.

Family Violence and Sexual Violence Reform: New Zealand passed the Family Violence Act 2018, providing stronger protections for domestic violence victims and creating new police powers to issue safety orders.

Reducing Recidivism Programs: The Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) runs comprehensive rehabilitation programs including cognitive behavioral therapy, substance abuse treatment, and reintegration planning for all prisoners.

Te Puna Aonui (Cross-Agency Board): A government board comprising seven agencies that coordinates the national response to family violence and sexual violence.

Youth Justice System Reform: New Zealand's youth justice system, administered through the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act, emphasizes family group conferences (restorative justice) over detention.

https://www.justice.govt.nzhttps://www.corrections.govt.nzhttps://www.tepunaaonui.govt.nzOrganizations: Ministry of Justice (), Department of Corrections (), Te Puna Aonui ()

Portugal

Portugal is internationally recognized for its radical drug decriminalization policy and comprehensive social reintegration programs, which have dramatically reduced drug-related violent crime.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

Drug Decriminalization (Law 30/2000): In 2001, Portugal decriminalized personal possession of all drugs, transferring enforcement from criminal courts to Dissuasion Commissions composed of social workers, lawyers, and medical professionals. This significantly reduced drug-related violent crime.

Integrated Response Teams (ETET): Multidisciplinary street-outreach teams from the Institute on Drugs and Drug Addiction (SICAD) provide treatment and social support to at-risk individuals.

National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination: The Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) funds programs to reduce violence based on gender and other forms of discrimination.

School Safety Programs: The Ministry of Education's Programa Escola Segura deploys specialized police officers in schools to prevent violence and support at-risk youth.

Employment Integration for Former Offenders: The Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) provides vocational training and job placement assistance for individuals released from prison.

https://www.sicad.pthttps://www.cig.gov.pthttps://www.dgrs.mj.ptOrganizations: Institute on Drugs and Drug Addiction SICAD (), Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (), Ministry of Justice ()

Slovenia

Slovenia has achieved low violent crime rates through community policing, strong social cohesion, and an emphasis on rehabilitation within its criminal justice system.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

Community Policing Model: The Slovenian Police implement a community policing model with dedicated community officers (Policisti Za Preventivo) assigned to specific neighborhoods to build relationships and address concerns proactively.

Social Pedagogy Programs: Schools employ trained social pedagogues who work alongside teachers to support at-risk students and intervene in bullying or violent behaviors.

https://www.inst-krim.siRestorative Justice: The Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law Ljubljana () develops and implements restorative justice programs emphasizing victim-offender mediation.

Youth Assistance Centers: Municipal Youth Assistance Centers (Centerji za Mlade) provide counseling, recreational activities, and crisis intervention for at-risk youth.

Domestic Violence Prevention: The Act on Prevention of Domestic Violence requires multi-agency coordination between police, social services, health care, and NGOs to respond to and prevent domestic violence.

https://www.policija.sihttps://www.inst-krim.sihttps://www.mnz.gov.siOrganizations: Slovenian Police (), Institute of Criminology Ljubljana (), Ministry of Interior ()

Česko (Czech Republic)

The Česko has maintained low violent crime rates through investment in community safety programs, strong law enforcement practices, and social cohesion policies.

Key Policies and Initiatives:

National Strategy for Crime Prevention: The Česko Ministry of Interior funds the National Strategy for Crime Prevention (Strategie Prevence Kriminality), which coordinates municipal, regional, and national crime prevention programs with an emphasis on at-risk youth.

Probation and Mediation Service: The Institute of Probation and Mediation (Probacni a Mediavni Sluzba CR) offers mediation between offenders and victims, community service coordination, and probation supervision as alternatives to incarceration.

Social Inclusion Agendas: The Office of the Government of the Česko operates Agency for Social Inclusion (Agentura pro Socialni Zaclenovani), addressing poverty and segregation in marginalized communities to reduce structural causes of violence.

Police-Community Partnerships: Česko Police implement PREVENT programs with local governments to reduce radicalization and gang-related violence.

Mental Health Reform: The Ministry of Health supports a national mental health reform plan expanding community-based mental health care, reducing untreated psychiatric conditions associated with violent behavior.

https://www.mvcr.czhttps://www.pmscr.czhttps://www.socialni-zaclenovani.czOrganizations: Česko Ministry of Interior (), Institute of Probation and Mediation (), Agency for Social Inclusion ()

Note: Values represent approximate percentage share of global violent crime incidents. Source: UNODC Global Study on Homicide 2023; World Health Organization Violence Prevention Data.

Section 3: What the U.S. Can Do to Decrease its Violent Crime Rate

Reducing violent crime in the United States requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy that addresses the social, economic, environmental, and institutional factors that contribute to violence. The following describes specific actions required of government agencies, officials, corporations, and private citizens.

Federal Government Agencies

The Department of Justice (DOJ) must increase funding for community-based violence intervention programs, expand the Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, strengthen oversight of local law enforcement through the Special Litigation Section, and fund research through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) on evidence-based crime prevention strategies.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) must increase prosecutorial resources for illegal firearms trafficking and establish a comprehensive national firearms tracing system.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatment programs through SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), fund home visiting programs for at-risk families, and support violence prevention grants through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Division of Violence Prevention.

The Department of Education must fund after-school programs, expand access to school counselors and mental health services, and implement restorative justice practices in school discipline policies.

State and Local Government Agencies

State Attorneys General must create dedicated units prosecuting violent repeat offenders, implement sentencing reform reducing mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses, and fund victim assistance programs.

Local law enforcement agencies must implement community policing strategies, invest in de-escalation training, establish crisis intervention teams (CIT) partnering police with mental health professionals, and use data-driven strategies such as predictive policing only with strict civil liberties oversight.

City and county social service departments must fund Violence Interruption Programs (VIPs) employing credible messengers in high-crime neighborhoods, invest in public housing improvements, and connect returning citizens with employment and housing resources.

Education Initiatives

Educational institutions at all levels must implement Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula from kindergarten through 12th grade. School districts must increase the ratio of school counselors per student to meet recommended standards of one counselor per 250 students.

Community colleges and vocational schools must partner with local businesses to provide job training programs targeting populations with highest crime risk.

The Department of Education must expand Head Start and Early Head Start programs, as early childhood intervention reduces the likelihood of later criminal behavior.

Employment and Economic Development

Federal and state governments must invest in job creation programs in communities with high unemployment rates and high crime rates.

The Department of Labor must fund workforce development programs specifically targeting returning citizens, at-risk youth aged 16-24, and long-term unemployed individuals in high-crime areas.

Corporations must establish partnerships with community organizations to provide job training and placement services in underserved communities.

Small Business Administration (SBA) must expand access to microloans and technical assistance for entrepreneurs in high-crime communities.

Media Campaigns

Federal agencies, particularly the CDC and DOJ, must fund sustained national and local media campaigns designed to change social norms around violence. These campaigns should promote conflict resolution, bystander intervention, and mental health help-seeking behavior.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting must fund local media productions highlighting positive community role models and violence prevention success stories.

Social media companies including Meta, Alphabet (Google/YouTube), and X (formerly Twitter) must partner with public health organizations to amplify evidence-based violence prevention messages and reduce the spread of content glorifying violence.

Youth Activities and Mentorship Programs

AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service must expand youth programs providing mentorship and positive activities.

The Department of the Interior and local governments must invest in parks, recreation centers, and community spaces in underserved neighborhoods.

Non-profit organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the YMCA must expand their reach in high-violence communities with dedicated funding from both government and private sector sources.

Youth curfew alternatives, such as structured evening activities, sports leagues, and creative arts programs, must replace punitive approaches.

Firearms Policy

Congress must pass legislation requiring universal background checks for all firearms sales, including private transactions and gun shows, to close existing loopholes.

Federal and state governments must fund gun violence research through the CDC, which was effectively banned from such research from 1996 to 2020. Red flag (extreme risk protection order) laws must be adopted in all 50 states, allowing courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals in crisis. Investment in community-based gun buyback programs and illegal firearms recovery initiatives should be expanded.

Healthcare and Mental Health

The federal government must expand Medicaid coverage in all states to include comprehensive mental health services, including inpatient, outpatient, and crisis stabilization.

HHS must fund crisis stabilization centers and 24-hour crisis hotlines as alternatives to jail or emergency room responses to mental health crises. Insurance companies must be required to fully comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), ensuring mental health coverage is equivalent to physical health coverage.

Hospitals must implement trauma-informed care protocols for all patients presenting with violence-related injuries, and social workers must be embedded in emergency departments.

Section 4: References

https://cops.usdoj.gov/1. U.S. Department of Justice - Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS):

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention:

https://www.samhsa.gov/3. SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

https://ucr.fbi.gov/4. FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program:

https://bjs.ojp.gov/5. Bureau of Justice Statistics:

https://nij.ojp.gov/6. National Institute of Justice:

https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/#/7. Institute for Economics and Peace - Global Peace Index:

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/homicide.html8. UNODC Global Study on Homicide:

https://www.gallup.com/analytics/318875/global-research.aspx9. Gallup World Poll:

https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/en/10. World Health Organization - Violence and Injury Prevention:

https://www.bgca.org/11. Boys and Girls Clubs of America:

https://www.bbbs.org/12. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America:

https://www.ymca.org/13. YMCA of the USA:

https://americorps.gov/14. Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps):

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta15. U.S. Department of Labor - Employment and Training Administration:

https://www.nami.org/16. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2088.html17. RAND Corporation - Gun Policy in America:

https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/justice-policy-center18. Urban Institute - Justice Policy Center:

https://www.brennancenter.org/19. Brennan Center for Justice:

https://crimesolutions.ojp.gov/20. Crime Solutions - Office of Justice Programs:

Section 5: Draft of a House Bill

H.R. ____

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

________, 20__

AN ACT

To establish a comprehensive national strategy for the prevention and reduction of violent crime in the United States by coordinating federal, state, and local government agencies, imposing requirements on corporations and private citizens, and appropriating funds for evidence-based programs.

Short Title: THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY ACT OF 20__

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

1. "Violent Crime" means any offense involving force or threat of force against persons, including but not limited to murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and domestic violence as defined in applicable federal and state statutes.

2. "At-Risk Youth" means individuals under the age of 18 who are at elevated risk of committing or becoming victims of violent crime due to poverty, family instability, exposure to violence, substance abuse, or lack of educational engagement.

3. "Evidence-Based Program" means a program or practice that has been evaluated using rigorous scientific methodology and demonstrated to produce statistically significant reductions in violent crime or risk factors associated with violent crime.

4. "Community Violence Intervention" means a public health approach to violence reduction that deploys credible messengers with lived experience of violence to interrupt cycles of retaliation and provide services to individuals at the highest risk.

5. "Firearm" has the meaning given such term in Section 921(a)(3) of Title 18, United States Code.

6. "Mental Health Crisis" means a condition in which an individual's psychiatric symptoms or behavior pose an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others or result in a significant impairment of functioning.

7. "Restorative Justice" means a process that brings together victims, offenders, and community members to address the harm caused by crime and to develop agreements for repairing that harm and preventing future offenses.

8. "Recidivism" means the return of a previously incarcerated individual to criminal behavior, as measured by re-arrest, re-conviction, or reincarceration within a specified time period after release.

9. "Covered Corporation" means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other business entity with annual revenues in excess of $50,000,000 operating within the United States.

10. "Designated Federal Agencies" means the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and such other agencies as the President may designate by Executive Order.

11. "Secretary" means the Secretary of the relevant Designated Federal Agency, as the context requires.

12. "Grant Eligible Entity" means a state, local government, tribal government, educational institution, non-profit organization, or faith-based community organization that meets eligibility criteria established by the Secretary.

SECTION 2. ENACTING CLAUSE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that this Act shall be known as the Violent Crime Reduction and Community Safety Act. The findings of Congress are as follows:

(a)Violent crime imposes enormous costs on individuals, families, communities, and the American economy, estimated at over $460 billion annually when accounting for direct costs, criminal justice expenses, and lost economic productivity.

(b)The United States has significantly higher rates of violent crime than comparable high-income nations, with a homicide rate approximately four times the average of Western European countries.

(c)Evidence-based strategies including community violence intervention, mental health services, economic opportunity programs, and criminal justice reform have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing violent crime.

(d)Addressing the root causes of violent crime, including poverty, inequality, lack of educational and employment opportunity, housing instability, and untreated mental illness, is essential to achieving sustainable reductions in violence.

(e)Coordinated action by federal, state, local, and tribal governments, in partnership with the private sector, civic organizations, and communities, is necessary to achieve the goals of this Act.

SECTION 3. REQUIREMENTS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Each Designated Federal Agency shall, within 180 days of the enactment of this Act:

(a)Develop a Violent Crime Reduction Plan specifying measurable goals, timelines, and accountability metrics for agency-specific contributions to violent crime reduction.

(b)The Department of Justice shall:

(1) increase annual funding for the Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program by not less than $1.5 billion;

(2) establish the National Community Violence Intervention Grant Program awarding competitive grants to community-based organizations;

(3) require all recipients of DOJ law enforcement grants to implement de-escalation training, crisis intervention team protocols, and implicit bias training;

(4) expand the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to close the private sale and gun show loopholes.

(c)The Department of Health and Human Services shall:

(1) expand SAMHSA Crisis Counseling Program grants to all 50 states;

(2) require all federally qualified health centers to provide integrated mental health and substance abuse services;

(3) fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention at not less than $200 million annually for research and implementation of evidence-based violence prevention programs;

(4) establish mobile crisis response teams in every Metropolitan Statistical Area.

(d)The Department of Education shall:

(1) condition federal education grants on adoption of Social Emotional Learning curricula;

(2) increase the ratio of school counselors in Title I schools to not less than one counselor per 250 students;

(3) fund Threat Assessment Teams in all public secondary schools;

(4) expand the Safe Schools and Healthy Students initiative.

(e)The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall:

(1) increase funding for public housing improvement in designated high-violence communities;

(2) fund the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative at not less than $500 million annually;

(3) prohibit eviction of public housing tenants based solely on a criminal record unless the offense involved violence within the housing community.

(f)The Department of Labor shall:

(1) fund the YouthBuild program at not less than $200 million annually;

(2) establish Job Training Centers for Returning Citizens in every state;

(3) require federally funded workforce development programs to eliminate automatic exclusions based on criminal records.

(g)All Designated Federal Agencies shall coordinate through an interagency task force chaired by the Attorney General, which shall report annually to Congress on progress toward the goals established under this Act.

SECTION 4. REQUIREMENTS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Government officials at the federal, state, and local level shall fulfill the following requirements:

(a)The President of the United States shall designate a National Director for Violent Crime Reduction within the Executive Office of the President, who shall coordinate implementation of this Act across all federal agencies and publish an annual National Violent Crime Reduction Report.

(b)The Attorney General shall:

(1) promulgate regulations implementing the National Community Violence Intervention Grant Program within 90 days;

(2) establish a National Commission on Violent Crime Reduction composed of law enforcement leaders, public health experts, community representatives, formerly incarcerated individuals, and crime victims' advocates;

(3) publish quarterly reports on violent crime trends disaggregated by offense type, geography, demographic characteristics, and weapon used.

(c)State Governors shall:

(1) develop and submit to the National Director a State Violent Crime Reduction Plan within one year of enactment;

(2) designate a State Coordinator for Violent Crime Reduction;

(3) ensure state laws comply with minimum standards for domestic violence protection orders, extreme risk protection orders, and firearms background checks.

(d)Mayors and County Executives of jurisdictions with populations exceeding 100,000 shall:

(1) establish a local Violence Prevention Coordinating Council including law enforcement, public health, education, social services, and community stakeholders;

(2) implement a violence prevention strategic plan with measurable annual benchmarks;

(3) designate high-violence priority zones receiving concentrated resources.

(e)Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs shall:

(1) implement community policing strategies with a minimum of 20 percent of patrol officers designated as community liaison officers;

(2) establish or contract Crisis Intervention Teams pairing law enforcement with mental health co-responders;

(3) collect and publicly report annually on use-of-force incidents, complaints, and disciplinary actions.

(f)Prosecutors shall:

(1) develop diversion programs for first-time nonviolent offenders, including pre-trial diversion and deferred prosecution agreements conditioning dismissal on completion of counseling, substance abuse treatment, or community service;

(2) establish specialized domestic violence prosecution units;

(3) consult with victims before making charging decisions in violent felony cases.

(g)Judges shall receive mandatory training on trauma-informed practices, the effectiveness of restorative justice, and the impact of sentencing decisions on recidivism, to be provided by the Federal Judicial Center.

SECTION 5. REQUIREMENTS BY CORPORATIONS

Each Covered Corporation operating within the United States shall:

(a)Adopt a Fair Chance Hiring Policy prohibiting automatic exclusion of applicants based on criminal history, and instead evaluate each applicant individually based on the nature of the offense, the time elapsed, and the duties of the position, consistent with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records.

(b)Provide not less than $100 per employee per year in community investment contributions directed to violence prevention organizations operating in communities where the corporation has facilities, operations, or significant employee concentrations.

(c)Media and entertainment corporations with annual revenues exceeding $500,000,000 shall:

(1) establish a Violence Content Review Board including public health experts and community members;

(2) fund not less than $50,000,000 annually in aggregate for public education campaigns on violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mental health resources;

(3) implement content guidelines reducing the glamorization of gun violence and criminal behavior in programming directed at audiences under the age of 18.

(d)Firearms manufacturers and dealers shall:

(1) implement smart gun technology research investment of not less than 2 percent of annual revenues;

(2) provide mandatory firearm safety training with each retail sale;

(3) maintain complete and accurate sales records and cooperate fully with ATF firearms tracing requests.

(e)Social media corporations with monthly active users exceeding 10,000,000 within the United States shall:

(1) establish dedicated teams to identify and remove content that facilitates gang recruitment, drug trafficking, or planning of violent crimes;

(2) implement algorithmic adjustments reducing viral amplification of content glorifying violence;

(3) partner with violence prevention organizations to deliver targeted intervention messaging to users identified as at elevated risk.

(f)Insurance corporations shall comply fully with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, provide coverage for crisis stabilization services without prior authorization, and cover evidence-based violence risk assessment and intervention services.

(g)Compliance with the requirements of this Section shall be reported annually to the Secretary of Commerce, who shall publish aggregate data on corporate compliance without disclosing proprietary business information.

SECTION 6. REQUIREMENTS BY PRIVATE CITIZENS

The following requirements are imposed upon private citizens of the United States:

(a)Firearm owners shall:

(1) store all firearms in a secure, locked container when not in personal use, pursuant to safe storage requirements;

(2) report lost or stolen firearms to local law enforcement within 72 hours of discovery;

(3) complete a firearms safety training course as a condition of obtaining a firearms license or purchasing a firearm.

(b)Parents and legal guardians shall:

(1) ensure children under the age of 18 are supervised or engaged in school, employment, or structured activities during evening and nighttime hours;

(2) report suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities;

(3) take responsibility for supervising minor children's online activities, including social media use.

(c)All persons who witness or have credible knowledge of a violent crime, its planning, or its immediate aftermath shall report such information to appropriate law enforcement authorities, consistent with applicable whistleblower protections.

(d)Community members are encouraged to:

(1) participate in neighborhood watch programs;

(2) engage with youth mentorship and after-school programs;

(3) support violence interruption workers and organizations operating in their communities;

(4) seek mental health treatment for themselves and assist family members in accessing treatment.

SECTION 7. PENALTY CLAUSES

(a)Any Covered Corporation that fails to comply with the requirements of Section 5 of this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000,000 per violation per year, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce following notice and an opportunity for hearing.

(b)Any firearm owner who violates the safe storage requirements of Section 6(i) of this Act and whose unsecured firearm is accessed by a minor resulting in injury or death shall be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 and may be subject to criminal prosecution under applicable state or federal law.

(c)Any firearm owner who fails to report a lost or stolen firearm within the required time period shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for a first offense and not more than $5,000 for each subsequent offense.

(d)State and local governments that fail to develop required Violent Crime Reduction Plans within the specified time frames shall be ineligible for grant funding under this Act until compliance is achieved, except where failure to comply is due to circumstances beyond the government's control.

(e)The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice is authorized to bring civil actions against state and local law enforcement agencies that demonstrate a pattern or practice of constitutional violations contributing to excessive violence, including excessive force and discriminatory policing.

SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATES AND IMPLEMENTATION

(a)This Act shall take effect 30 days after the date of enactment, except as otherwise specifically provided.

(b)Designated Federal Agencies shall develop and publish implementation regulations within 180 days of enactment.

(c)Covered Corporations shall achieve full compliance with the requirements of Section 5 within one year of the date of enactment.

(d)State and local governments shall submit required plans within one year of enactment and shall achieve substantial compliance with all plan requirements within three years of enactment.

(e)The safe storage and lost/stolen reporting requirements of Section 6(i) shall take effect 90 days after enactment to allow for public education and compliance preparation.

(f)The National Director for Violent Crime Reduction shall be designated within 60 days of enactment. The National Commission on Violent Crime Reduction shall be fully constituted within 120 days of enactment.

SECTION 9. APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGETARY NOTES

(a)There are authorized to be appropriated the following amounts for fiscal years 20__ through 20__+5:

(1)$2,500,000,000 to the Department of Justice for the National Community Violence Intervention Grant Program, COPS program expansion, and associated administrative costs.

(2)$1,000,000,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services for SAMHSA grant expansion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) violence prevention research, and mobile crisis response team establishment.

(3)$750,000,000 to the Department of Education for school counselor expansion, Social Emotional Learning curriculum adoption, and Threat Assessment Team funding.

(4)$500,000,000 to the Department of Labor for YouthBuild expansion, Returning Citizen Job Training Centers, and workforce development program reform.

(5)$500,000,000 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Choice Neighborhoods Initiative and public housing improvement in high-violence communities.

(6)$250,000,000 to the Office of the National Director for Violent Crime Reduction for coordination, research, evaluation, technical assistance, and national reporting functions.

(b)The Congressional Budget Office shall prepare a 10-year budgetary analysis of this Act within 120 days of enactment, including an assessment of expected reduction in criminal justice system costs, productivity gains, healthcare savings, and other economic benefits attributable to projected reductions in violent crime.

(c)Federal agencies receiving funds under this Act shall establish rigorous performance measurement and evaluation systems, and the Government Accountability Office shall audit program outcomes every three years.

ENDNOTES

https://www.icsra.ishttps://www.garda.ie1. Community violence intervention models referenced in Section 3 and Section 9 are drawn from programs implemented in Nordic countries, New Zealand, and Éire / Ireland. See ICSRA (); An Garda Siochana Youth Diversion ().

https://www.aic.gov.au2. Extreme Risk Protection Order laws referenced in Section 3 are modeled on legislation in operation in Australia (National Firearms Agreement, 1996), Canada (Firearms Act, 1995), and several European nations. See Australian Institute of Criminology ().

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca3. Safe storage requirements in Section 6 are modeled on laws in Canada (Criminal Code, Section 86), Australia (Firearms Act each state), Norge (Firearms Act 2021), and Deutschland (Weapons Act). See Public Safety Canada ().

https://www.kriminalvarden.se4. Fair Chance Hiring provisions in Section 5 are informed by practices in Sverige, Danmark, and Norge emphasizing reintegration over permanent exclusion. See Swedish Prison and Probation Service ().

https://www.sicad.pt5. Drug treatment alternatives referenced in Sections 3 and 7 draw from Portugal's Law 30/2000. See SICAD ().

https://www.justice.govt.nz6. Restorative justice programs referenced throughout the Act are informed by programs in New Zealand, Norge, and Suomi. See New Zealand Ministry of Justice ().

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the United States rank globally for violent crime?

The United States ranked 129th out of 163 countries in the 2023 Global Peace Index, with the FBI reporting approximately 380.7 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. This places the U.S. far outside the top 35 safest nations globally.

What factors contribute to high violent crime rates in the United States?

Key contributing factors include approximately 120 guns per 100 civilians, a Gini inequality coefficient of 0.41, high urban poverty rates, systemic disparities in the criminal justice system, underfunded mental health services, and fragmented law enforcement policies across thousands of jurisdictions.

What has Iceland done to achieve one of the world's lowest violent crime rates?

Iceland uses the evidence-based Planet Youth prevention model to reduce youth delinquency, provides universal free mental health services, maintains strong social welfare programs, and enforces strict firearm licensing requiring medical certificates and written exams. Their community policing model trains officers in conflict resolution and social work.

How does Ireland reduce violent crime through community-based approaches?

Ireland's national police service, An Garda Síochána, uses Community Policing Forums to connect officers with local communities to address root causes of crime. The government also funds Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces through the Department of Health to tackle substance-related crime drivers.

Has Iceland's youth crime prevention model been adopted by other countries?

Yes. The Icelandic Prevention Model, known as Planet Youth and developed by the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis, has been successfully replicated in over 35 countries. It focuses on organizing structured youth activities to reduce substance abuse and juvenile delinquency.

Where can I find verified data on global and U.S. violent crime statistics?

Reliable sources include the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program at ucr.fbi.gov, the Institute for Economics and Peace Global Peace Index at visionofhumanity.org, the Gallup World Poll at gallup.com, and the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime statistics at dataunodc.un.org.

About the Author

Ronald Bonfilio has devoted his career to public service spanning more than five decades. His service began with the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, where he conducted medical laboratory research at Fort Detrick and at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He subsequently held a distinguished series of federal positions, including roles with the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (Vietnam), the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, and the U.S. State Department (Iraq), where he served as a Senior Economic Advisor and Agricultural Advisor. He also served 15 years with the U.S. Government Accountability Office as a Program Analyst and Auditor.

Ronald Bonfilio holds a degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, and degrees in Chemistry and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. He is a former Certified Public Accountant.