National OVP Network: 2025 Annual Report
Learn More about National OVP Network: 2025 Annual Report
Working Together to Reduce Violence and Improve Lives
The National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) strives to increase the expertise and effectiveness of local and state offices of violence prevention and other similar agencies by growing a national learning community that employs innovative and evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence in geographically and culturally relevant ways.
Through the NOVPN, NICJR also advocates for the creation and supports the development of new OVPs across the country.
Since its inception in 2021, the NOVPN has grown from 21 inaugural members to 78 members as of June 30, 2025.
NOVPN members span across state, county, and city offices, reflecting a diverse network dedicated to violence prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
An office of violence prevention is a public safety agency focused on violence reduction, responding to the specific needs of the jurisdiction in which it resides and using a public health approach rather than an approach centered around criminal enforcement. Most commonly, OVPs focus on firearm violence, the type of violence with the highest incidence in most US cities, but some offices also collaborate with other governmental agencies to address other types of violence, such as intimate partner or gender-based violence.
In 2021, NICJR Executive Director David Muhammad, Advance Peace CEO DeVone Boggan, and other strategic partners cofounded the NOVPN to provide offices of violence prevention and similar agencies with a learning community that provided a sense of belonging, support, and co-development. They envisioned a network of powerful leaders partnering in a collective mission to support their local communities in reducing—and ultimately eliminating—gun violence.
The Network offers a wide variety of learning opportunities for its members including: national and regional convenings; trainings and presentations on effective violence reduction practices; cross-OVP learning exchanges and site visits; and technical assistance focused on leadership and management development. NOVPN also supports OVPs in growing their capacity in data collection and reporting, fund development, communications and through both generalized and specialized training and technical assistance (TTA). Generalized TTA focuses on best practices in the field and specialized TTA is tailored to how violence shows up in a specific jurisdiction.
To become a member, please reach out to NOVPN@nicjr.org to begin the intake process.
