In an attempt to answer the question of why some post-civil war states remain stuck in a cycle of violence, I explore policy options and their impacts on conflict recurrence. I specifically test the potential for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programs and transitional justice mechanisms to interact in ways that impact peace. My results (quantitative analysis of civil wars 1950-2006 & Colombia case study) indicate that addressing grievances is most important in reducing conflict.