DURHAM, N.C. – The City of Durham and County of Durham are launching the first phase of a joint Violence Reduction Plan with the announcement of a strategy and learning session on Wednesday, December 17, which will be open to the public and feature nationally-recognized violence reduction expert Thomas Abt. This talk will kick off a six-month series of educational sessions with experts from across the country to help shape Durham’s comprehensive, evidence-informed strategy to reduce violence.

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What You Need to Know

• In-person Strategy and Learning session: Wednesday, December 17, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Auditorium, Main Branch of Durham County Public Library, 300 N. Roxboro St., Durham, NC
• No RSVP necessary, open to the public.

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“As we launch this first phase of our strategy to reduce violence, we are committed to grounding our work in both evidence and the lived experiences of our community. Durham deserves a strategy that is thoughtful, informed, and centered on what actually works to save lives,” said City of Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams.

 

“Durham’s path forward depends on all of us. This partnership between the City and County reflects our shared commitment to confronting violence with clarity, compassion, and proven solutions. As we begin the first phase of our Violence Reduction Plan, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to build a safer, more hopeful future for every resident,” said Dr. Mike Lee, Chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners. “We are taking meaningful steps toward lasting change, utilizing strategy rooted in both evidence and community voice. I’m proud of this work and confident that, together, we can create a Durham where every person feels safe and supported.”

Thomas Abt is the founding director of the University of Maryland’s Violence Reduction Center (VRC), a Senior Fellow with the Council on Criminal Justice, and author of Bleeding Out: The Devastating Consequences of Urban Violence—and a Bold New Plan for Action. His talk, “Using Science to Stop Violence and Save Lives: The VRC Approach,” will explore how proven, targeted interventions—implemented with discipline and community partnership—can significantly reduce violence and build safer neighborhoods.

This talk is just the first in a series of public strategy and learning sessions designed to create space for shared education among Durham residents, community leaders, and public officials. Future sessions, to be announced in the coming weeks, will feature practitioners from cities across the country who are successfully reducing gun violence and saving lives. The full series will culminate in the spring with a Violence Reduction Summit convened by Mayor Leonardo Williams.

This event is free and open to the public. The City and County look forward to welcoming the community as Durham embarks on this critical, collective effort to reduce violence and strengthen safety for all.

About Community Safety

The Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) exists to reduce harm, extend care, and increase stability for our neighbors facing crises. Established in 2021, DCSD advances community-centered approaches to public safety that offer alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system. As of July 2025, the department is organized into two direct service divisions; 911 Crisis Response teams that are unarmed and led by mental health professionals dispatched to behavioral health and quality-of-life emergencies, and Stabilization Services to support neighbors navigating housing insecurity, reentry after incarceration, behavioral health needs, and other complex life challenges.

About Durham County Justice Services

The Durham County Justice Services Department promotes public safety through support for the local criminal justice system. The department provides rehabilitative services for justice-involved individuals through a wide array of programs, supportive services, and partnerships with a wide array of community partners.

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