Mon Sep 23 15:02:55 UTC 2024: ## Urban Violence Declines, But Book Helps Cities Combat the Problem

**Nationwide, homicides are falling, but the US still faces a severe gun violence epidemic.** While many cities have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the number of homicides remains 26 times higher than in other comparable countries.

**One key factor behind the recent decrease in homicides is the growing use of evidence-based strategies outlined in the book “Bleeding Out” by Thomas Abt.** This book, published in 2019, argues that urban gun violence is not an inevitable problem, but one that can be effectively reduced using specific methods.

**Abt’s book emphasizes three guiding principles:** focus, balance, and fairness. Cities should focus resources on the most at-risk individuals and places, balance law enforcement with prevention and community intervention, and enforce the law fairly.

**The book’s impact is now being felt across the country.** Its principles have influenced federal policy, and are being adopted by cities and states to combat gun violence. The US Department of Justice’s “Violent Crime Reduction Roadmap” echoes the “essential actions” outlined in the book, further solidifying its influence.

**Experts and community leaders praise the book’s comprehensiveness.** “He gathered all of the evidence-based policy and research that was out there… and put it into something that was digestible by not just researchers but policymakers and community members,” says criminology professor Volkan Topalli.

**While Abt’s approach has been criticized by some for focusing on “stopping the bleeding” rather than addressing “root causes,”** he maintains that his strategy offers a data-driven path towards reducing violence and saving lives.

**Abt is now at the forefront of helping cities implement these strategies.** He has founded the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland, which is working with cities like Boston, Knoxville, and St. Louis to tailor their own solutions.

**Despite challenges and criticism, Abt’s book has emerged as a vital resource for cities grappling with gun violence.** By translating complex research into actionable plans, “Bleeding Out” is helping to turn the tide on a deeply rooted problem in American society.

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