An intervention program aimed at curbing violence in Memphis by speaking to shooting victims and their families encountered resistance from one of Memphis’ largest hospitals, prompting city officials to intervene.
On Tuesday, Memphis City Council members voted to pass a resolution requesting the Shelby County government help facilitate an agreement between Regional One Health Hospital and the city-funded Group Violence Intervention Program (GVIP). Memphis launched the program in 2020 with $2.4 million in funding.
Members of the GVIP team visit trauma units at hospitals to provide intervention to juveniles and their families who have been affected by gun violence. The program has partnered with the Methodist Le Bonheur trauma department, but efforts to connect with Regional One have been denied, citing HIPAA concerns.
“I’m sorry but whoever is in charge of Regional One needs to wake up and let our people in,” said City Council member Dr. Jeff Warren, who helped launch the program.
GVIP is an alternative to policing by collaborating with the Memphis Police Department and examining weekly shootings to identify the shooters as well as their victims who may retaliate and promote further violence.
“Today’s victims could be tomorrow’s suspect,” said Jimmie Johnson, GVIP spokesperson. “If my friend got shot yesterday, he might go and retaliate against the person who shot him, or my friend’s group could go retaliate.”
An intervention team of 50 trained members — including police liaisons — who know the dynamics of gangs and cliques are tasked with connecting with individuals and mediating “beefs” to discourage retaliation and encouraging positive community response. GVIP liaisons also offer services to at-risk individuals, such as paths to employment, in the hopes of reducing recidivism.
“Right now, in our time and society, police officers get such a negative viewpoint from citizens, but now these individuals being contacted by law enforcement see them in a different light. They see them as a hand of redemption. ‘We’re trying to help you before we get to the point of having to arrest you and prosecute you,’” said Johnson.
The program has seen mild initial success. Due to COVID delays, the program began operating only in recent months despite receiving funding before the pandemic. As of September, 126 individuals were identified, 122 contacted, 29 accepted communications and 12 have been referred to services. Most of the identified individuals were between the ages of 16 to 25.
In November, GVIP will begin call-ins to offer paths to employment and other services to those on active probation. Parolees will also be informed about the risk of death and prosecution should they or their associates continue to engage in violence.
“The violence must stop. The community is tired of it. We’re tired of it, but instead of just locking you away, we’re going to give you an alternative to change your behavior instead of incarcerating them,” said Johnson.
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