Advancing Violence Prevention Through Research and Education
Empowering Communities with Thoughtful Research
At the Centers for Violence Prevention (CVP), we provide a scientific approach to understanding and preventing violence. Our research centers have more than 30 years of experience, through which we’ve helped shape the way violence is studied and prevented. We continue to build the evidence base that community members and change makers can rely on for effective violence prevention strategies. The Centers for Violence Prevention shares the work of the Violence Prevention Research Program and the California Firearm Violence Research Center to empower key stakeholders and translate findings into impactful policies and initiatives, creating safer, more equitable communities where all can flourish.
Research and Action for Safer Communities
Our Mission
The Centers for Violence Prevention conduct rigorous, interdisciplinary, and actionable research, and engage in education and policy development on the causes, consequences, and prevention of violence in the United States, emphasizing firearm violence and violence in California.
Our comprehensive research program incorporates diverse disciplines and approaches, drawing from the best available data and analytic techniques and the perspectives of people who may experience or be affected by violence. Because we believe that addressing root causes is an important part of ensuring that all people and communities thrive, our work includes efforts to address the inequities in who is at risk for violence and in access to the fundamental conditions for safety, health, and well-being.
Our Vision
We envision a future where every person lives free from the fear, threat, or reality of violence.
Our Core Values
At CVP, our core values guide how we work, collaborate, and create impact in the world. They shape our research, partnerships, and daily interactions.
Trust, Vulnerability & Collaboration
We build mutual trust, support one another through the challenges of violence prevention, and value open, honest dialogue.
Equity & Inclusion
We address structural inequities, challenge power dynamics, and center the voices of those most impacted by violence.
Excellence & Impact
We uphold rigorous research standards while ensuring our work is relevant, innovative, and actionable.
Community Partnerships & Accountability
We engage communities as partners, sharing findings, building long-term relationships, and ensuring our research serves real needs.
Agency & Growth
We support academic freedom, encourage learning, prioritize well-being, and adapt as our understanding evolves.
Our Centers and Programs
About the Violence Prevention Research Program
The UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) is internationally recognized for its interdisciplinary research and policy development on violence prevention. Since 1991, VPRP has been a trusted source for understanding the causes, consequences, and prevention of violence.
About the California Firearm Violence Research Center
The California Firearm Violence Research Center at UC Davis (CA FVRC), established in 2017, is the first state-funded center dedicated to firearm violence research. Guided by the California Firearm Violence Research Act, CA FVRC conducts basic, translational, and transformative firearm violence research, disseminates that evidence to promote the adoption of effective prevention strategies, and extends those efforts through education and training.
CA FVRC supports non-CA FVRC investigators conducting firearm violence research through its grants program.
About the BulletPoints Project
The BulletPoints Project teaches medical and mental health care providers how to reduce the risk of firearm injury in their patients. Through a variety of training materials, BulletPoints helps clinicians become more informed, more effective partners in keeping their patients safe and in reducing the overall burden of firearm injuries. The BulletPoints project is developed by CA FVRC.
What We Do
- Rigorous Scholarly Research
By analyzing data from diverse sources and engaging with a wide range of perspectives, we ensure that our findings are reliable and comprehensive. This research serves as a foundation for meaningful change—offering the clarity needed to inform policies, guide interventions, and inspire hope. Evidence-Based Policy Guidance
Good decisions are rooted in strong evidence. We develop recommendations and share our findings and insights with community leaders, lawmakers, and other change-makers so that they can create practical, effective policies to reduce violence in their communities.
- Thoughtful Community Engagement
By working for and with community members and community-serving organizations, our research is strengthened and shared, communities are empowered, and resulting violence prevention strategies are more effective. - Practical Education and Training
We’re committed to advancing violence prevention through dynamic professional training and public education. Our programs and resources are designed to equip people with the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to make a meaningful impact in their work and communities.