Promising Strategies for Violence Reduction: Lessons From Two Decades of Innovation (Project Safe Neighborhoods Case Study 13)

• NCJ Number: 241709
• Author(s): Edmund F. McGarrell; Natalie Kroovand Hipple; Timothy S. Bynum; Heather Perez; Karie Gregory; Candice M. Kane; Charles Ransford
• Date Published: March 2013
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2009-GP-BX-K054
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative); Case Study
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report summarizes key components and distinguishing characteristics of four programs designed to reduce and prevent violence, particularly gun violence.

Abstract

Since the mid-1990s, several promising interventions have had varying degrees of empirical support for their ability to prevent and reduce levels of crime and violence locally. Although there remains a need to develop additional evidence on the impact of these strategies and the identification of key components that are producing violence reduction, they suggest promising practices that local jurisdictions should consider in developing strategies for preventing and reducing violent crime. The four programs are Boston Ceasefire; Cure Violence (formerly CeaseFire Chicago); Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national program; and the Drug Market Intervention (DMI) in High Point, NC. All of these programs give priority to establishing new partnerships that focus on reducing violent crime, and all programs rely on research and analysis to support a data-driven approach to violence-prevention and control. All programs deliver a risk message to both the general public and those believed to be at greatest risk for being involved in violence, either as a perpetrator or victim. Three of the programs are driven by either local law enforcement or the U.S. Attorney's Office, typically working together; the Cure Violence/CeaseFire Chicago program can be led by a mayor's office, health department, university, or nongovernmental or community agency. The PSN and DMI programs borrow from the Boston Ceasefire program by using a focused deterrence approach. PSN emphasizes increasing levels of Federal prosecution for gun crimes, and three programs promote communicating a credible threat of increased prosecution at Federal and/or local levels. Cure Violence relies on the direct interruption of shootings or killings, behavioral change, and direct communication of credible messages to high-risk populations; and all the programs link at-risk individuals to legitimate services and social support. 3 figures and 67 references