The last several decades of criminal justice research has revealed three key findings: (1) communities can reduce crime and violence through data-driven processes and evidence-based strategies; (2) effective implementation of these processes and strategies is central to crime reduction; and (3) implementation of strategic innovations is difficult and often met with resistance.¹ In an effort to support law enforcement agencies and their respective partners in effective implementation of strategic crime reduction efforts (SCREs), a team of scholars at Michigan State University (MSU), supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is developing the Violence Reduction Assessment Tool (VRAT). The VRAT is intended to serve as a planning and resource tool to identify assets and gaps and provide resources to address the gaps, with the goal of supporting the effective implementation of evidence-based SCREs.