A new study from Boston University has found that a hospital-based program for victims of gun and knife violence can lower the risk of those individuals being injured again or committing violence themselves. The research focused on the Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP) at Boston Medical Center (BMC), which offers post-discharge support including mental health, family services, and assistance with housing, employment, and education.
Lead researcher Jonathan Jay, associate professor at BU School of Public Health, highlighted the significance of these findings for similar programs across the country. "If we invest more in hospital-based violence intervention programs, will that help cities get their gun violence levels down?" Jay said.
The study analyzed records from over 1,300 survivors of shootings or stabbings between ages 16 to 34 who were considered at high risk for future violence. While about half engaged with VIAP shortly after discharge, only around 10 percent maintained regular contact during the first two months. This group saw their likelihood of being involved in future violence drop by half compared to others.
Lavon Anderson, VIAP's housing coordinator, emphasized the program's approach: "There's an old saying that hurt people hurt people, and that really applies to the work we do," Anderson said. "VIAP helps prevent future violence by helping people heal from trauma, stabilize their lives, and work toward goals that may not have felt possible before. When people feel supported and hopeful, they're much less likely to return to cycles of violence."
Patients admitted to BMC with violent injuries meet with VIAP advocates during or soon after their hospital stay. These advocates conduct needs assessments addressing safety planning, mental health support—provided in collaboration with BMC’s Community Violence Response Team—and other social determinants like housing insecurity.
Anderson noted that while some participants benefit most from frequent engagement with VIAP staffers, others may need only a few visits for effective recovery. Unlike some other programs that offer stipends for attendance, Anderson believes genuine readiness is key: "From my experience, we see a higher success rate with participants who engage because they're genuinely ready for change. They're self-motivated, and our program serves as a tool to support the direction they've already chosen."
Jay observed that VIAP stands out due to its comprehensive services and flexibility in eligibility criteria; it does not restrict access based on age or require set attendance schedules. "VIAP says, we don't care about that. If you're the victim of violence and you were at the emergency department at BMC, we will help you," Jay explained.
Jay also pointed out that national strategies such as gun safety laws are facing challenges in many states while nearly 47,000 gun-related deaths occurred in 2023—the most recent year with complete data available.
"A lot of other [hospitals] could show these results to hospital administrators and other funders," said Jay.
Anderson expressed hope regarding expansion: "I'm hopeful that Professor Jay's findings will support expansion of the program and further strengthen our work. We already share our approach with programs nationwide, and I think his research can really help fine-tune what we do."
The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine and was supported by a Fund for a Safer Future grant. It included researchers from multiple institutions including Boston University's schools and colleges; Boston Medical Center; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Health Alliance for Violence Intervention; and University of Michigan.
