Gun Violence Awareness

NYS SNUG Outreach (SNUG) is an evidence-based violence reduction initiative that was first established in NYS in 2009. The program seeks to engage high-risk individuals who are causing violence in communities with high rates of violent crime, address the issues that may be causing high-risk individuals to engage in gun violence, and share with the community how violence is spread. SNUG seeks to modify an existing norm of community acceptance of violent behavior from its citizens by engaging community residents, businesses, and community-based organizations to implement coordinated strategies to reduce and prevent shootings and killings. The program employs and relies on Street Outreach Workers who live in the communities in which they serve, to act and be viewed as credible messengers by persons at high risk of offending.