Albuquerque officials claim Violence Intervention Program is working

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Officials in Albuquerque believe the Violence Intervention Program is working.

"I’m talking to people who are literally in shoes that I have walked through before. I’ve experience gun violence. I’ve been a victim of gun violence. In my younger years, I’ve perpetrated violence, so I could understand where the people in our community are coming from, and I’ve felt the pain," said Angel Garcia, a social service coordinator with the program.

Since April 2020, the Violence Intervention Program made 133 in-person meetings, or what they call custom notifications.

They people they make contact with need various resources, including housing support, job support or therapy.

The city reports that 97% of the people who have received help have not been arrested.

The other three percent were "predominately arrested for drug-related offenses."

APD is on track to reach even more people this year.

"We’re there to intervene to make sure this cycle ends," said APD Chief Harold Medina.