The mechanisms of conflict escalation are vital to understanding rates of interpersonal violence. Conflict dynamics have been a core research interest for the Crime and Justice Policy Research program for several years. Research projects under this area have addressed research questions, such as “Why are offenders and victims often the same people?” “What accounts for the link between mental health and interpersonal violence?” and “What motivates bystanders to take sides when conflicts erupt?”. A new stream of research in this area will focus on gun violence and gun violence regulation.