With resources limited and lives at risk, leaders should embrace a culture of learning that assesses every strategy to determine if it is saving lives and reducing violence. This requires engaging with both research partners and multi-sector stakeholders to analyze performance and when necessary, implement course corrections that can maximize impact.
Department of Justice (DOJ) resources can help localities establish an infrastructure to support continuous improvement and innovation. Key resources are identified below, followed by links to additional resources.
Resources
With the support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) using Strategies for Policing Innovation funds, the Boston Police Department engaged in a problem-oriented policing enterprise to understand the underlying nature of its homicide clearance problem, develop appropriate responses to enhance its investigations of homicide victimizations, and evaluate the impact of the implemented intervention.
Collecting Data for a Safer Community (PDF, 2.3 MB)
This toolkit was developed to help local coalitions looking to improve community safety do a more robust job of collecting data. It provides ideas for alternative sources of information and lays out concrete steps for collection, so data is identified, collected and transferred in a timely fashion.
Community Violence Intervention Implementation Checklist
Developed with support from BJA, the Community Violence Intervention Implementation Checklist captures background information about community violence intervention (CVI) efforts, CVI guiding principles, and details on the following specific steps to take when implementing CVI programs.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: Blueprint for Success (PDF, 4.3MB)
This BJA resource provides background information about the DOJ initiative Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), how to build a strong PSN initiative, including the use of data and evidence, key design elements, and training and technical assistance services available. This report also identifies and describes the implementation of the various PSN features linked to its effective performance.
This report provides case study reviews of sites where Strategies for Policing Innovation initiatives implemented two software technologies: risk terrain modeling (New Haven, Connecticut) and social network analysis (Cincinnati, Ohio; Glendale, Arizona; and Kansas City, Missouri).
Understanding and Responding to Crime and Disorder Hot Spots
This guide highlights hot spots policing and uses the scanning, analysis, response, and assessment model as a framework to discuss the process of understanding and responding to hot spots.
Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) Resources:
Dynamics of Deterrence: Youth Gun Violence in Portland (PDF, 4 MB)
Portland, Oregon, was one of the earliest cities to launch the SACSI programs. They emphasized the importance of targeting youth gun violence by analyzing criminal activity, formulating intervention strategies, and measuring the success of these interventions. By using a deterrence model in this program, success rates showed a 42% decrease in homicides and 25% decrease in other violent crimes city-wide. This report describes the process of identifying youth gun violence in a problem assessment and the strategies implemented to address gun violence.
Evaluation of SACSI in Winston-Salem: Engaging the Community in a Strategic Analysis of Youth Violence (PDF, 3.3 MB)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was one of the original five SACSI sites that used research findings of violent criminal activity in the area to develop intervention strategies. A comprehensive, focused strategy was developed to address the high volume of youth violence. A diverse set of agency representatives and community members collaborated to create intervention programs that reduce youth violence and reoffending. This report provides a detailed description of the process of conducting a problem analysis, employing collaborative intervention efforts, and continued monitoring of the effect of this problem-solving approach.
Final Assessment of the SACSI in New Haven (PDF, 690 KB)
New Haven, Connecticut, was one of the original five SACSI sites to use data to employ interventions that reduced gun violence. The researchers and law enforcement agencies worked with federal officials to execute three main intervention strategies, which ultimately led to a 32% decrease in violent gun crimes and 45% decrease in calls regarding “shots fired.” This report provides a detailed description of the process of different agencies collaborating to reduce gun violence and the lessons learned from implementing the SACSI program.
Paving the Way for Project Safe Neighborhoods: SACSI in 10 US Cities (PDF, 353 KB)
The Department of Justice launched SACSI to test data-driven intervention strategies for targeted homicide, youth violence, firearm violence in 9 cities and rape and sexual assault in 1 city. The study found that the SACSI approach, when implemented effectively, is associated with reductions in targeted violent crimes, sometimes by as much as 50 percent. This report highlights the key elements that led to success of SACSI, such as leadership provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the integration of research into planning and intervention strategies, collaborative strategic planning, and implementation of various intervention strategies.
SACSI: Detroit, Michigan (PDF, 446 KB)
As a part of the second phase of implementing SACSI, a collaborative working group of researchers and state, local, and federal officials developed the first data-driven strategy in Detroit, Michigan, to address gun violence. Through the integration of research into problem selection, analysis, and strategic planning, the working group implemented a unique approach to gun violence by focusing on offenders likely to carry guns. This report outlines the effectiveness, successes, and challenges of implementing this evidence-based approach to addressing gun violence.
SACSI in Albuquerque: Project Activities and Research Results (PDF, 2.2 MB)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a part of the phase II sites that implemented SACSI as a strategy to reduce gun violence in the area. Through multi-agency criminal justice collaboration with researchers and federal, state, and local representatives, gun violence and repeat felony offenders were targeted to prevent criminal activity. This report gives a detailed overview of the implementation of the program and preliminary results of its effectiveness.
SACSI in Rochester, NY (PDF, 1 MB)
In the second phase of the SACSI program, Rochester, New York, used a research-driven process to identify target crimes and populations. Researchers and criminal justice agencies collaborated to conduct a problem analysis to address homicides in the area. Collaboration with criminal justice agencies to implement strategies to reduce homicides led to an overall significant decline in homicides. This report discusses the different strategies put in place to reduce violent crimes in Rochester.
SACSI in St. Louis, Final Report (PDF, 942 KB)
St. Louis, Missouri, participated in the second phase of the SACSI program, in which they used systematic and spatial analyses of homicides in the area to identify hot spots for gun violence and characteristics of offenders and victims. Based on the results from these analyses, the state, local, and federal officials implemented several intervention strategies to intervene and prevent firearm violence. This report highlights the usage of research strategies to effectively address and reduce criminal activity.
Strategic Approaches to Reducing Firearms Violence: Final Report on the Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership (PDF, 775 KB)
Indianapolis, Indiana, was one of the first sites to implement SACSI. Through multi-agency collaboration, Indianapolis used data- and information-driven strategies to reduce firearms violence and homicide, resulting in a 53% reduction of gun assaults and 32% reduction in homicides. This report provides a detailed description of the process of conducting a problem analysis, employing prevention and intervention efforts to significantly reduce gun assaults and homicide rates, and continued monitoring of the effect of this data-driven, interagency, problem-solving approach.
National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention
The mission of the Youth Violence Prevention Centers (YVPCs) is to research and prevent youth violence. YVPCs identify and test innovative violence prevention approaches. YVPCs also strengthen the use of effective prevention strategies in communities.
BJA, through their training and technical assistance provider LISC, has provided a repository of resources to help with the implementation of CVIPI initiatives, including guidance on data and analysis. In addition, CVIPI grantees are eligible to request training and technical assistance from CVI experts.
National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention
The mission of the Youth Violence Prevention Centers (YVPCs) is to research and prevent youth violence. YVPCs identify and test innovative violence prevention approaches. YVPCs also strengthen the use of effective prevention strategies in communities.
Project Safe Neighborhoods Training and Technical Assistance Program
BJA, in partnership with Michigan State University, the CNA Institute for Public Research, and the National Center for Victims of Crime, provides training and technical assistance in the implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
VetoViolence Tools & Trainings
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention center provides training and resources to strengthen the violence prevention toolkit of educators, policy makers, and public health professionals.
BJA Violent Crime Reduction Summit Resource Center
Resources from the BJA Violent Crime Reduction Summit designed to offer insights and tools to jurisdictions in addressing violent crime that impacts their communities.
With the support of BJA using Strategies for Policing Innovation funds, the Boston Police Department engaged in a problem-oriented policing enterprise to understand the underlying nature of its homicide clearance problem, develop appropriate responses to enhance its investigations of homicide victimizations, and evaluate the impact of the implemented intervention.
Cardiff Violence Prevention Model Toolkit
The Cardiff Violence Prevention Model provides a way for communities to gain a clearer picture about where violence is occurring by combining and mapping both hospital and police data on violence. It also provides a framework for hospitals, law enforcement agencies, public health agencies, community groups, and others interested in violence prevention to work together and develop collaborative violence prevention strategies.
This resource was developed to help communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent youth violence. This resource is available in English and Spanish and can impact individual behaviors and the relationship, family, school, community, and societal factors that influence the risk and protective factors for violence.
The Fight Against Rampant Gun Violence: Data-Driven Scientific Research Will Light the Way
This article reviews and assesses completed and planned National Institute of Justice (NIJ) research grants that are pertinent to countering gun violence in the United States.
From Crime Mapping to Crime Forecasting: The Evolution of Place-Based Policing
In this NIJ Journal article, an NIJ scientist reviews the history, landscape, and evolution of place-based policing. Over the years, NIJ has funded projects that explore, evaluate, and seed analytical techniques and technology to support law enforcement agencies that use place-based policing practices and strategies to help answer the question, “How do we best reduce crime and improve public safety?”
Non-Fatal Shooting and Homicide Assessment Summary
This report presents findings and recommendations from the non-fatal and homicide assessment of 13 medium-to-large law enforcement agencies. It identifies common themes, technical gaps, and recommendations for enhancing an agency’s capacity to respond to homicides and non-fatal shootings.
Notes From the Field: Using Evidence-Based Policing to Combat Violent Crime
This NIJ "Notes from the Field" article discusses evidence-based policing and the experiences of the Manchester (New Hampshire) Police Department in applying it to focused patrols in gun crime hot spots. Sgt. Matthew Barter describes why he became interested in evidence-based policing. He notes how Manchester Police used grant funding in 2015 to provide focused patrols in the gun crime hot spots.
Police Use Science and Community Partnerships to Reduce Gun Violence
In this NIJ podcast, the Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science Scholars from three police departments discuss how they worked with community organizations and used evidence-based policing to reduce gun violence.
Using Forensic Intelligence to Combat Serial and Organized Violent Crimes
In this NIJ Journal article, NIJ scientists describe how integrating forensic evidence into the intelligence process is an evolutionary next step in reducing, disrupting, and preventing violent crime.
VetoViolence Tools & Trainings
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention center provides training and resources to strengthen the violence prevention toolkit of educators, policy makers, and public health professionals.
Violence Prevention: Funded Research
The Division of Violence Prevention publishes research on the factors that put people at risk or protect them from violence, creates and evaluates the effectiveness of prevention strategies, and examines how to adopt and disseminate prevention strategies.
The National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research publishes scientific research to increase understanding of public health interventions to prevent different forms of violence and the trauma, injuries, and mortality resulting from them.
Violent Crime Reduction Operations Guide
This BJA-sponsored, practitioner-focused guide outlines actions and activities that have contributed to successful crime-fighting strategies throughout the country. This guide complements existing conversations and offers a unique “for the field, by the field” perspective that combines best practices and research to assist law enforcement executives in assessing capacity and strategic planning.
Practice Profile: Geographically Focused Policing Initiatives
Geographically focused policing initiatives increase the presence and visibility of police officers at specific high-crime locations to significantly reduce crime and disorder. When implementing geographically focused policing initiatives, the target areas may include small places (e.g., crime hot spots, problem buildings), smaller police-defined areas (e.g., beats), neighborhoods and selected stretches of roads or highways, or larger police-defined areas (e.g., precincts). This practice is rated Promising for reducing crime in treatment areas relative to control areas.
Practice Profile: Hot Spots Policing
Hot spots policing strategies focus on small geographic areas or places, usually in urban settings, where crime is concentrated. Through hot spots policing strategies, law enforcement agencies can focus limited resources in areas where crime is most likely to occur. This practice is rated Effective for reducing overall crime and rated Promising for reducing violent, property, public order, and drug and alcohol offenses. This program profile provides a description of the practice and key evaluation findings.
Program Profile: Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS)
This is a community-based program that brings police, local government agencies, and the community together to prioritize problems and prevention efforts in Chicago, Ill. The goal is to solve neighborhood crime problems, rather than react to only to their symptomatic consequences. The program is rated Promising. Police beats or geographical units that implemented the program experienced a statistically significant reduction in crime and calls to 911, compared with police beats that did not. This program profile details the description, methodology, and evaluation outcomes.
Program Profile: Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI)
A crime-focused initiative, designed to address gang-related gun homicides in selected cities, CAGI was implemented in 12 select cities in response to increasing gang prevalence across the country. The main purpose of the CAGI was to prevent and reduce gang-related crime. The initiative involved a comprehensive model of suppression (enforcement), prevention, and reentry. The program is rated Promising; there was a significant reduction in gun homicides related to gang crime in cities that implemented the initiative.
Program Profile: Geographically Based Focused Deterrence Intervention (Midwest)
A geographically based focused deterrence intervention was implemented in a midwestern city, with the goal of reducing gun violence, particularly gang-related gun violence. The dual place- and person-based components of focused deterrence strategies typically target gang networks and areas that suffer from high amounts of gang and gun violence. The target area was selected using official police data on the number of shots fired during a specific period of time. There was a statistically significant reduction in confirmed shots fired, residents’ reports of hearing gunshots, and residents’ reports of seeing gang activity. However, there was no statistically significant impact on calls for service for shots fired. The program is rated Promising.
Program Profile: Operation Ceasefire in Boston, MA
Operation Ceasefire is a problem-solving police strategy that started in Boston, MA and was designed to reduce gang violence, illegal gun possession, and gun violence in communities using a focused deterrence strategy. This program is rated Effective; when implemented in Boston, there were statistically significant reductions in youth homicide, citywide gun assaults, calls for service, and recovered new guns following implementation of the intervention. This program profile provides a description of the program, evaluation findings, and key implementation information.
Operation Ceasefire is a problem-solving police strategy that started in Boston, MA, and was designed to reduce gang violence, illegal gun possession, and gun violence in communities using a focused deterrence strategy. This program is rated Effective; when implemented in Boston, there were statistically significant reductions in youth homicide, citywide gun assaults, calls for service, and recovered new guns following implementation of the intervention. This program profile provides a description of the program, evaluation findings, and key implementation information.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts to interrupt the supply of new handguns to criminals in Boston through Operation Ceasefire. Results from the evaluation found that the program’s focus on retail diversion was associated with a decrease in the percentage of new handguns recovered by Boston police. Policy implications are discussed and include the need to develop strategic enforcement programs that target the illegal diversion of new guns from primary markets.
Program Profile: Safe Street Teams (Boston, MA)
Safe Street Teams (SST) is a place-based, problem-oriented policing strategy implemented by the Boston (Mass.) Police Department in response to a sudden increase in violent index crimes. The SST program was designed to reduce violent crime by assigning teams of BPD officers to targeted crime hot spots around the city and requiring them to implement problem-oriented policing strategies to address specific violence-related problems at each site. The program is rated Promising; treatment street units experienced statistically significant reductions in total violent index crime, robbery, and aggravated assault, compared with control street units.