The IJIS Institute and The George Washington University present… The Role of Information Technology in the Fight Against Violent Crime

Murder in New Orleans – The Breakdown of a Justice System Dr. Peter Scharf Founder and Executive Director The Center for Society, Law and Justice Texas State University

The Problem What is the relationship between investment in criminal justice technologies and the homicide rate in US cities? What is the relationship between investment in criminal justice technologies and the homicide rate in US cities? Is this investment rational in terms of the control of violence and murder in the US? Is this investment rational in terms of the control of violence and murder in the US? What was the impact of the introduction of new criminal justice information technologies on the reduction of murder rates in the 1990’s? What was the impact of the introduction of new criminal justice information technologies on the reduction of murder rates in the 1990’s? What will be the impact of the next generation of information technologies upon violent crime? What will be the impact of the next generation of information technologies upon violent crime?

What Does a Murder Cost? The murder of a teenager costs about $1 million in accrued costs. The murder of a teenager costs about $1 million in accrued costs. A child disabled by gunshot costs about $2 million in lifelong social, health costs. A child disabled by gunshot costs about $2 million in lifelong social, health costs. Correctional costs are approaching $60 billion, or $30,000 per inmate. Correctional costs are approaching $60 billion, or $30,000 per inmate. The loss of business investment and out- migration of talent may be additional costs of violent crime. The loss of business investment and out- migration of talent may be additional costs of violent crime. What would be the impact if these costs could be largely eliminated? What would be the impact if these costs could be largely eliminated?

US Homicide Patterns: Rise in homicides in 1980’s. Rise in homicides in 1980’s. Increased link to “crack” use. Increased link to “crack” use. African-American youth homicide patterns (Blumstein’s interpretation). African-American youth homicide patterns (Blumstein’s interpretation). Decline in 1990’s. Decline in 1990’s. Second wave epidemic evident since Second wave epidemic evident since Why the decrease in the 1990’s? Why the decrease in the 1990’s? Why the increase now? Why the increase now?

High Murder Rate Cities in the US: What are Critical Factors?

New Orleans Case Study: Violence and Urban Decline Why is the murder rate in New Orleans on the rise? Why is the murder rate in New Orleans on the rise? What could information technology do to reverse this trend? What could information technology do to reverse this trend? What are the direct and indirect costs of murder in New Orleans? What are the direct and indirect costs of murder in New Orleans?

Crime Mitigation and Differential Criminal Justice Capacity: New Orleans and Houston Houston murder suspect has a 4 times greater chance of being charged and a 42 times greater chance of being convicted. Houston murder suspect has a 4 times greater chance of being charged and a 42 times greater chance of being convicted. The “hydraulics” of New Orleans-Houston crime mitigation. The “hydraulics” of New Orleans-Houston crime mitigation. Role of technology. Role of technology.

Comparing Murder Rates in Cities: New Orleans, New York, Boston New Orleans leads the US. New Orleans leads the US. New Orleans increases rate since 2000 while other cities retain decreases. New Orleans increases rate since 2000 while other cities retain decreases. New Orleans 12 times more dangerous than New York in terms of murder. New Orleans 12 times more dangerous than New York in terms of murder. New Orleans increases risk by 2.5 since New Orleans increases risk by 2.5 since 1999.

Murder in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina Murders increase in Murders increase in New Orleans approximates murder rate of 1994 – Len Davis year. New Orleans approximates murder rate of 1994 – Len Davis year. New Orleans murder rate appears constant through date of presentation. New Orleans murder rate appears constant through date of presentation. New Orleans last half year is 94/100K. New Orleans last half year is 94/100K. Opportunity/crime patterns may have changed significantly in the wake of the hurricane. Opportunity/crime patterns may have changed significantly in the wake of the hurricane.

Technology Support and New Orleans Murder Rate New Orleans murder rate is: New Orleans murder rate is: –7 times that of Boston. –15 times that of Seattle. New Orleans murder rate in last half year (2006) is 94/100K. New Orleans murder rate in last half year (2006) is 94/100K. Murder rate declined by 60% in late 1990’s: Murder rate declined by 60% in late 1990’s: –424 homicides in –162 homicides in Murder rate increased by 70% since FY 2000 which was the last year of significant COPS MORE/BJA information technology support. Murder rate increased by 70% since FY 2000 which was the last year of significant COPS MORE/BJA information technology support.

Leadership and Technology: Linkages Conveying Justice System Purpose Conveying Justice System Purpose –Values and due process –Strategies for restoration Enduring the Effects of Catastrophe Enduring the Effects of Catastrophe –Criminal opportunity –Social and behavioral change Avoiding Breakdown Avoiding Breakdown –Disorder and loss –Aggravated cause (when criminals figure it out) Can you have quality information technology without leadership, problem focus, and strategy? Can you have quality information technology without leadership, problem focus, and strategy?

Why is New Orleans So Different From Other Cities? Global hypotheses: Global hypotheses: –Differential underclass effect – criminals “from Hell.” –Differential criminal justice system – “broke system” – policing, DA, courts, corrections. –Migration effects – Diaspora research on Houston-New Orleans crime mitigation patterns. –Low technology/professional investment.

Significance/Value of Information Significance and value of information – decision support as it effects clearance, arrest, conviction. Significance and value of information – decision support as it effects clearance, arrest, conviction. Importance of information technology in facilitating effective information sharing. Importance of information technology in facilitating effective information sharing. Correctional initiatives and the value of information in managing offenders. Correctional initiatives and the value of information in managing offenders.

The Case for Technology Investment: Programs that worked in Boston, Chicago, and New York in the 1990’s Boston: Boston: –Youth murders down from 191 (1990) to 67 (2006). –Project Ceasefire – technology. –City-wide approach – health, education, community involvement. –BRIC (Boston Regional Intelligence Center). Chicago: Chicago: –Change from over 900 (1990) to about 400 (2006). –Heavy investment in technology. –ICAM, CLEAR. New York: New York: –Murders down from 2,400 (1990) to 530 (2006). –“ZT” –Compstat. –Reporting kiosks. –Reducing both murders and jail cells.

Technology Investment and Murder Reduction Technology investment rises from and then declines. Technology investment rises from and then declines. Murder rates in major cities fall through the 1990’s, then increase. Murder rates in major cities fall through the 1990’s, then increase. What is the relationship between criminal justice technology investment and reduction in murder? What is the relationship between criminal justice technology investment and reduction in murder? Leavitt (2003) hypotheses on impact of policing, correctional policies – murder. Leavitt (2003) hypotheses on impact of policing, correctional policies – murder. Research on COMPSTAT, CEASEFIRE, EXILE. Research on COMPSTAT, CEASEFIRE, EXILE.

High Technology/Low Murder Rate or Low Technology/High Murder Rate Does low technology investment mean higher violent crime rates? Lowest technology investment cities: – –Oakland – –New Orleans – –Jersey City

Information Technology Investment Impact What is the projected impact (hypothetical) of $10 million information technology investment in a high murder city (e.g., New Orleans)? What is the projected impact (hypothetical) of $10 million information technology investment in a high murder city (e.g., New Orleans)? Model assumes: Model assumes: –162 murder victims –324 disabled victims –$10 million investment –Reductions of 2% - 15%

Questions, Thoughts, Ideas: Role of IT in Reversing Murder Risks in US Cities What is being done to improve or enable the sharing of crime information across agencies? What is being done to improve or enable the sharing of crime information across agencies? What is being done to help overcome some of those hurdles? What is being done to help overcome some of those hurdles? What is being done to bridge the gap between IT infrastructure need and financial resources? What is being done to bridge the gap between IT infrastructure need and financial resources? What are we doing about emerging IT and applying it to the crime problem? What are we doing about emerging IT and applying it to the crime problem?

Questions, Thoughts, Ideas: Role of IT in Reversing Murder Risks in US Cities Your Turn…

Dr. Peter Scharf The Center for Society, Law and Justice Department of Criminal Justice Texas State University