Interpersonal violence is a complex, multifaceted problem shaped by individual, social and structural factors. Two prominent forms of interpersonal violence are Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)—any act of physical, psychological or emotional abuse between intimate partners—and community violence—serious acts of violence (including fights, assaults and shootings) between unrelated individuals who may or may not know one another. While IPV and community violence share underlying drivers and often reinforce one another, current interventions do not account for these connections in their design or implementation. Overlooking these shared risk factors and interactions may result in missed opportunities for effective and critical integrated interventions.
Newly available data in the Allegheny County Data Warehouse now make it possible to examine the intersection of IPV and community violence at the individual level. With these data, we can identify who faces the highest risk, understand how multiple forms of violence occur among the same individuals, and design more precise person-centered interventions that reflect these overlapping dynamics. This approach allows us to address shared risk factors directly and strengthen integrated cross-system prevention strategies. We invite you to review the data brief to learn about the intersection of IPV and community violence in Allegheny County.
Key Takeaways
Allegheny County interpersonal violence data from 2021 through 2024 reveal:
- IPV history is common in homicide cases: One in five homicide victims or perpetrators had a documented history of IPV (including both indicated and confirmed IPV cases).
- Recent IPV often precedes fatal incidents: Nearly half of homicide victims or perpetrators with a documented IPV history had experienced an IPV-related event within one year before the fatal incident.
- Co-exposure to IPV and gun violence signals high system involvement: Individuals exposed to both IPV and gun violence had homelessness and substance use treatment rates more than three times the County average and child welfare involvement at four times the County rate.
- Structural inequities shape who experiences IPV and gun violence: Black men and women experienced both IPV and gun violence at disproportionately high rates relative to their share of the County population, with geographic concentration in historically disinvested neighborhoods.
- Current intervention approaches may miss overlapping risk across types of violence: Many individuals charged with IPV had prior non-IPV criminal involvement, highlighting the need for cross-system strategies that address broad behavioral, environmental and structural drivers of harm.
How the County Uses This Information
We use IPV and community violence data to inform and strengthen our strategy to reduce IPV and community violence in the County. This strategy includes the following elements:
- Conducting coordinated reviews of high-risk cases: Convene weekly cross-system reviews of individuals arrested for IPV offenses who are at high risk of causing serious harm, designed to support the identification and delivery of targeted and timely interventions.
- Identifying limitations of current intervention approaches and legal system responses: Individuals with a history of community violence may continue acts of IPV despite repeated legal sanctions, indicating that reliance on Protection from Abuse orders (PFAs), criminal charges and battering intervention programs alone may not drive meaningful behavior change.
- Advancing community‑based integrated prevention approaches: Expand and strengthen prevention strategies that reduce reliance on formal systems often distrusted by communities affected by systemic inequities; apply Community Violence Reduction Initiative (CVRI) strategies (e.g., credible messengers, conflict mediation, non-clinical cognitive behavioral approaches) to engage individuals at high risk and address the shared drivers of both IPV and community violence.
What’s Next
The County will continue to:
- Leverage data to guide improved strategy and investment: Strengthen prevention strategies by grounding them in current data and evidence-based practices aimed at filling gaps in current intervention models that support community health and safety.
- Expand and enhance integrated interpersonal violence prevention approaches: Align IPV and community violence strategies by drawing from each to strengthen the other; equip practitioners to recognize patterns of harm, assess risk and engage individuals across contexts; and create additional pathways for engagement and behavior change beyond formal systems
These efforts reflect ACDHS’s commitment to advancing integrated data-informed approaches that reduce harm and support the health and well-being of all Allegheny County residents.
Questions or Feedback?
We welcome your questions and suggestions. To share feedback, you can reach us at DHSResearch@alleghenycounty.us. If you’d like to stay informed, consider signing up for our newsletter. To learn how to use DHS data in your research, please visit our Requesting Data page. Thank you for your time and interest. Your engagement helps shape and improve how we share data that matters.