Boston Homicide Clearance Rate Improvement Project

The Smart Policing Initiative seeks to build upon the concepts of offender-based and place-based policing and broaden the knowledge of effective policing strategies. The most convincing research demonstrates that place-based or hotspot policing reduces violent crime and neighborhood disorder. This initiative addresses the need for effective policing that requires a tightly focused, collaborative approach that is measurable, based on sound, detailed analysis and includes policies and procedures for accountability. This grant program seeks to build upon data-driven, evidence-based policing by encouraging state and local law enforcement agencies to develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime within their jurisdictions.

The Boston Police Department (BPD) will use the FY 2014 Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) grant, in partnership with a research partner, to supplement its Homicide Clearance Program. The BPD SPI will examine whether additional and consistent investigative efforts increase the likelihood that an offender is arrested in serious assaultive gun violence. The analysis will also determine the specific investigative factors associated with clearances in both fatal and non-fatal gun violence, and the types of cases that are most amenable to additional investigative efforts. The results will complement the BPD SPI Homicide Clearance Program by establishing a baseline for the value of existing homicide unit practices, over investigative work pursued by district detectives responsible for non-fatal gun assault investigations. The findings will be useful in expanding new investigative structures, policies, and procedures developed during the initial SPI Homicide Clearance Program.

The BPD objectives are to create a business model for investigations and to coordinate units within a standardized and consistent system of response and investigation that demands professionalism and accountability. The BPD will provide two base-line trainings to BPD members: Homicide Investigation and Crime Scene Management. NCA/NCF