Dr. Jeffrey Butts, the director of research at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has studied violence interruption programs at the national level. He explained that it's difficult to quantify just how effective these programs are, as violence interrupters in other cities primarily deal with trying to change the community culture through relationships to avoid violence.
WBUR Public Radio: Here & Now
Police have announced a suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting that left many wounded Tuesday. We discuss the implications of the apparently random gun violence with Jeffrey Butts, director of the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Al Jazeera — Responding to Gun Violence in New York City
"If we start to define public safety though, in terms of how much money we spend on policing, that's the wrong approach."
C-SPAN: Washington Journal
Jeffrey Butts interviewed on C-SPAN's Washington Journal program by host Bill Scanlan.
NPR — Michigan School Shooter is 1 of Thousands of U.S. Juveniles Charged as Adults in 2021
"If it's just supposed to send a message to that kid and all other people that we take this seriously and we're not going to stand for this behavior, therefore we're punishing you, then it accomplishes that purpose." But Butts says if the idea is to improve public safety or prevent future crime, decades of research show that is rarely the result.
NJ Spotlight News — New Jersey PBS
Jeffrey Butts interviewed as part of a story covering the release of a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspective.
WBAL News Radio BALTIMORE
Jeffrey Butts joined Yuripzy Morgan on WBAL News Radio in Baltimore, where City officials are launching new efforts to reduce community violence.
WYPR Midday — Do Violence Interruption Programs Work? Some Critical Perspectives
Jeffrey Butts joins Amos Gelb and LaTrina Antoine with WYRP host Tom Hall in a discussion about the effectiveness of violence interruption programs.
City Watch. WBAI Pacifica Radio in New York City
On the September 19, 2021 episode of City Watch on WBAI 99.5 FM, Host Jeff Simmons focused on gun violence prevention with guests: Erica Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Camp Inc., New York City Councilmember Adrienne Adams, and Dr. Jeffrey Butts, Research Professor and Director of the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
CBS2 New York — Criminal Justice Expert Says Police Intervention Only Part Of Solution To New York City’s Gun Violence
Dr. Jeffrey Butts is the lead researcher at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which was commissioned by the city to assess the effectiveness of its anti-violence initiatives. Butts said police intervention is only the first step and societal factors must also be addressed.
NBC News — Activist Group Works to Combat Gun Violence in NYC
Jeffrey Butts interviewed by NBC News for a story about community-based violence prevention efforts in New York City.
The Matt McNeil Show — AM950 Minneapolis
Interview on the Matt McNeil Show in Minneapolis.
Univision — Cuomo Declara una Emergencia por la Violencia Armada en Nueva York
Jeffrey Butts interviewed as part of a story about the New York Governor's announcement of gun violence prevention initiatives.
Univision News — Increases in Violent Crime
Jeffrey Butts interviewed by Andrea Linares about violent crime surges around the U.S. as President Biden unveils his plan to reduce nationwide violence.
ABC7 Newscenter, New York, June 10, 2021
Jeffrey Butts interviewed by N.J. Burkett of ABC7 New York on June 10, 2021 about the rise in shooting incidents across New York City.
MSNBC — The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart
"Researchers can at least eliminate possible explanations. So, you can look at data and test hypotheses. One hypothesis that has been around (you alluded to it) is that it’s somehow related to Defunding the Police. So, there have been researchers who have looked at police budgets, and changes from year to year... and there’s really no relationship there.”
Fox5 New York — Chinatown Assault Suspect was Arrested Last Week on Other Charges
Police often say the criminal justice system is a revolving door but Jeffrey Butts of John Jay College of Criminal Justice said his research proves otherwise. "The vast majority of people who are released pretrial do not get arrested again while they are waiting for trial," he said. "About 5%, at most, of people who are arrested and waiting trial and then released get rearrested prior to their trial."
1010 WINS — IN DEPTH PODCAST
Our first guest is Jeffrey Butts, the director of the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College Of Criminal Justice. Butts discusses the causes of recent increases in gun violence.
CBC News — Prospects for Police Reform in the U.S.
Public safety is largely about social conditions and the extent to which people feel secure, not only in their own homes but in their communities in terms of housing and healthcare and education, food supply. If those things are all taken care of, you don't need policing as much as you would otherwise.
ABC7 New York — New York to Legalize, Regulate Marijuana
Interviewed by local ABC affiliate in New York City for story about lawmakers in announcing a deal on a bill to legalize, tax, and regulate recreational marijuana in New York State.
CUNY TV — DiverseCITY
CUNY TV's Diverse City program, hosted by Zyphus Lebrun, visits Port Richmond and neighboring West New Brighton on Staten Island to hear about a program in which former felons work with law enforcement to address the growing levels of gun violence.
WNYC –30 Issues: Who is the Real Law and Order Candidate?
Participated in a discussion as part of the Brian Lehrer show on WNYC.
Fox News – Alternative Policing: NYC Mayor de Blasio Funding “Violence Interrupters”
Jeffrey Butts interviewed for this story on Fox News, July 30, 2020.
WNYC — The ‘Cure Violence’ Model of Public Safety
Jeffrey Butts, Shadoe Tarver, and Jessica Mofield explain how many communities in New York City are working with Cure Violence groups to reduce shootings.
NY Fox 5: New York Expands Cure Violence
On June 10, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the $10M expansion of Cure Violence programs in police precincts in New York City with the highest amounts of gun violence.
Jeffrey Butts 