National OVP Network

FAQ

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. The NOVPN is led by Latisha McNeil and supported by a team of NICJR staff.

The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform and its partners have helped to launch and strengthen offices of violence prevention and similar agencies for more than 15 years. In light of the rapid growth of OVPs nationwide, NICJR, Advance Peace, the Center for American Progress, the Vera Institute of Justice, and OVP leaders from across the country announced the launch of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network in February 2021.

The NOVPN was co-founded by NICJR Executive Director David Muhammad and Advance Peace Executive Director DeVone Boggan, both of whom continue to be instrumental to its operations and growth.

As of June 2026 Since its founding, the Network has grown from 21 agencies to over 88 members.

88 Total Network Members

15 % Increase in State Offices in 2026

12 % Increase in Local Offices in 2026

The NOVPN serves as a learning community with the goal of significantly increasing the expertise and effectiveness of member agencies. The Network:

Hosts convenings
Offers trainings and presentations on effective violence reduction practices
Offers technical assistance (TA) by building member agencies’ expertise and capacity in data collection and reporting, fund development, communications/media relations, and more (see our extended list)
Provides leadership and management development
Coordinates learning exchanges and site visits across Network members
Connects members to other local and national training and TA providers, to address their unique needs and priorities
Supports the creation of new OVPs
Curates and manages a leadership pipeline for civilian-led public safety offices

Through these efforts, the NOVPN ultimately aims to significantly reduce violence nationwide.