Delivering Gang Intervention Services: An Examination of Community Violence Intervention Workers and Street Legitimacy

• In Event: Between a Bullet and a Safe Place: Examinations of Community Violence Intervention Workers

Abstract

Community violence intervention (CVI) Workers have become a staple in addressing gang and community-based gun violence. CVI workers are tasked with an array of responsibilities which include working within the communities impacted by violence. Operating within these communities requires outreach workers to have “street legitimacy” which is the result of trust and credibility obtained by the CVI worker from community members. The organizations CVI workers work with can impact their legitimacy within communities, emphasizing that CVI workers must learn to navigate through government and community spaces carefully. The current study draws on 70 hours of field observations shadowing CVI workers in Denver and nearly 200 observed meetings to examine how outreach workers leverage their street legitimacy to deliver services to gang members. This study will also highlight the role organizations may play in guiding CVI workers as they carry out their work. Key findings reveal 1) Whether CVI workers need be indigenous to the communities they serve, 2) the manner in which CVI workers navigate working for a government agency and serving the community, and 3) the role of the CVI agency in policy implementation. Possible implications for programs employing street outreach, such as needing strong organizational leadership are discussed.

Authors

• Jose Sanchez, Texas Christian University

• David Pyrooz, University of Colorado Boulder