UVA Batten Hosts Community Forum on Violence Intervention

On Friday, March 13, the Public Engagement in Governance Looking, Listening, and Learning Laboratory (PEGLLLLab) at the UVA Batten School hosted The Violence Intervention Forum at Charlottesville’s City Hall. The forum featured Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, President of the National Medical Association (NMA), in conversation with Michael Hochis, Charlottesville Chief of Police; Bobby Doyle, Project Director for the Gun Violence Solution Project at UVA; Andy Block, a member of the UVA Law faculty and former director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ); Dr. Martin V. Burks, a pathologist and member of the NMA; and Greg Hopkins, Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention for the City of Richmond. The panel examined the causes, impacts, and potential solutions for gun-related violence. 

The discussion centered on using traditional public health mechanisms to measure and combat gun-related violence in Virginia. “Violence is a symptom – it’s the reaping sword of something going on in the community,” said Mitchell.

Professor Block, speaking from his experience in the DJJ, said that focusing on communities who have historically experienced trauma is one of the best methods for preventing future gun violence, specifically, using granular data, to strategically build relationships and help individuals who are struggling by providing medical and social services and tangible support. “When it’s in fight-or-flight, the brain does not behave normally,” said Block.

“Before we can act strategically, we need to have a community that trusts us,” said Hochis – a consistent message echoed by all of the panelists.

Having what Doyle called a “whole community approach” to violence prevention is an emerging tactic for Virginia, including community systems like neighborhood violence interrupters, and school systems that invest in building trust with students.  

“What prevents gun violence,” Mitchell said in summary, “is having access to consistent, caring people.”