Community-based violence prevention and victim service programs are key to the historic homicide declines

A report released Wednesday, August 13^th, states two Miami-Dade ZIP codes experienced historic drops in homicide. That report cites three community partnerships, including Thriving Mind, that resulted in more safety in the region.

The analysis from Scaling Safety, a joint public safety initiative of the Alliance for Safety and Justice and the Community Based Public Safety Collaborative, finds that coordinated and targeted public safety investments that include community-based violence prevention and victim service programs are key to the historic homicide declines in the Miami-Dade ZIP codes that have struggled most with violence.

Federal, county, and city agencies have made targeted investments into both law enforcement and community-based initiatives in those two ZIP codes. This real-time, multi-sector coordination between community-based organizations and government agencies across neighborhoods, cities, and the county creates a response that goes far beyond the traditional silos allowing immediate synchronized action following violent incidents.

• Two Miami-Dade neighborhoods, once known for high rates of violence, have seen historic drops in homicides thanks to community-led safety efforts.

• In Liberty City ZIP code 33147, homicides dropped from 31 in 2020 to just 5 in 2024 – an 83% decline.
• Two Miami-Dade ZIP Codes With 83% and 60% Drops in Homicides Had Significant Investment In Community-Based Violence Prevention and Victim Service Programs.
• The new Scaling Safety report shows that these gains came from a multi-pronged approach including conflict mediation by trusted community leaders to help stop shootings and retaliations, victim support, and other community-based strategies, to complement policing.
• The Thriving Mind Trauma Recovery Network provides access to mental health services, care coordination, peer support, and linkage to supportive community services for victims of violent crime and their families in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, including the 33147 and 33142 ZIP codes. To date, the program has served over 1,200 victims and family members, approximately 25% of whom are residents of those two ZIP codes.

The Florida Office of the Attorney General, utilizing Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, has supported the Thriving Mind South Florida Trauma Recovery Network since 2021. The Trauma Recovery Network provides access to mental health services, care coordination, peer support, and linkage to supportive community services for victims of violent crime and their families in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, including the 33147 and 33142 ZIP codes. To date, the program has served over 1,200 victims and family members, approximately 25% of whom are residents of those two ZIP codes.

For more information on Thriving Mind’s Trauma Recovery efforts, go here

To read the full report, go here