1 Community-Wide Engagement Boston Cease Fire to the Drug Market Intervention: A Discussion of Program and Evaluation Louis Tuthill – National Institute of Justice Danica Szarvas-Kidd – Bureau of Justice Assistance

Outline: Community-Wide Engagement National Institute of Justice Evolution of Community Strategies of: –Intervention –Prevention –Deterrence Current Programs and Evaluations (Drug Market Initiative) Future Efforts 2

National Institute of Justice Research and evaluation office of the department of Justice Goals of NIJ –Partner with State and local practitioners and policymakers to identify social science research and technology needs. –Create scientific, relevant, and reliable knowledge — with a particular emphasis on terrorism, violent crime, drugs and crime, cost-effectiveness, and community-based efforts — to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. –Develop affordable and effective tools and technologies to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. 3

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Evolution of Community Programs 6

Evolution of Programs Boston Cease Fire (1996) –Combined problem oriented policing Law enforcement, church, community stakeholders –What they did If anyone in the gang shot someone, all members of the gang would receive attention from law enforcement. The community needed the violence to stop. Social services and other help were available for those who wanted off the streets. –Replicated in other communities –Evaluation not rigirous 7

Evolution of Programs SACSI – Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (2000) –Mirrored Boston Ceasefire –Brought in more community partners –Brought in a research partner 8

Evolution of Programs Project Safe Neighborhoods (2001) –Implemented in all 94 US Attorney Districts –Build on successes and failures of earlier programs –Created partnerships among federal, state and local prosecutors; law enforcement; researchers; media and outreach specialists; and community leaders –tailored the intervention strategy to the needs of each individual district and to the gun problem in that particular area 9

Evolution of Programs Rigorous Evaluation of PSN (2008) –Researchers found there was a 13.1 percent drop in violent crime in target city with high levels of implementation –Contrast found a 7.8 percent increase in violent crime in non-target cities in low implementation districts. Factors that accounted for the drop –Strong leadership –Cross-agency buy-in –Democratic shared responsibilities –Flexibility across sites 10

Evolution of Programs Compressive Anti-Gang Initiative and Drug Market Initiative (Highpoint) –Draw on the earlier principals of Ceasefire, SACSI, and PSN –Address open-air markets and gangs in addition to firearms CAGI is being evaluated (results pending) DMI I will discuss in a moment 11

General Model of Programs 12

Current Programs and Evaluations (Drug Market Initiative) Highpoint,North Carolina (DMI) –Project Safe Neighborhood site Open-Air Drug Market not Guns –Took and Action Research Model approach to tweak the model –Preliminary evaluation of data is showing positive results (still in early stages) 13

Current Programs and Evaluations (Drug Market Initiative) Drawing Highpoint as a prototype –BJA has developed a nine step DMI initiative with training and technical assistance –They have replicated in 19 cities –rigorously evaluated in DMI at two sites with successful results – BJA is creating website, guides, and so on to assist local partners to implement this strategy 14

Current Programs and Evaluations (Drug Market Initiative) Nine steps –Crime Mapping –Survey –Incident Review –Undercover Operations –Mobilize the community –Contact with the offender’s family –Call in/Notification meetings –Enforcement –Follow up 15

Identifying the problem Identifying the problem and place through mapping –Map data from calls for service –Census –FBI uniform crime report Survey law enforcement officers, probation officers, vice officers, and community members in the target area about area drug dealers Incident review of narcotics crime in the target area 16

Conduct Reconnaissance Undercover Operations –Work a case on identified individuals catching them in the act Mobilize Community –Key community leaders involved –Mobilize positive resources for identified individuals Contact the offenders family –Contact influential people in individuals live for a call-in meeting 17

Call-in meeting Arrest the worst offenders Bring individual, family, community members, law enforcement, social services together Bring people in and provide them options and alternatives 18

Enforcement and Follow up Law enforcement continues to work with the community to reduce drug crimes –Law enforcement puts out newsletters of arrested individuals Identified individuals are given mentor to help move them in a positive direction Law enforcements continues to dialogue with the community Continue to monitor crime data, community feedback and law enforcement feedback 19

Preliminary Findings Nashville –Sustained decrease of property crime of 2.5 percent per month (28.4%) –38.6 percent decrease in narcotics offences –18.1 percent decrease in police calls for service Rochester –Target area 24.1 percent reduction in non-violent crimes 14.3 percent reduction in violent crime –City reductions 9 percent reduction in non-violent crimes 2.3 percent reduction in violent crimes 20

Future Efforts In the areas of education and health President Obama has focused on evidence-based programs US Attorney General Holder has said: I believe that, ultimately, we cannot get smart on crime in isolation. A rational, data-driven, evidence-based, smart approach to crime - the kind of approach that this Administration is dedicated to pursuing and supporting - must be part of a partnership in public safety. It requires the exchange and evaluation of experiences, and exposure to new ideas. – October 24, 2009 Laurie Robinson, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, OJP One of the things you'll probably hear the Attorney General talk about is his interest in evidence-based approaches. This has become his mantra, and it's long been a central concern of mine. So I'd just ask that, when we have our discussions today, you think about how we can improve and disseminate our knowledge of what works in preventing and reducing crime.– September 9,

Information Louis Tuthill National Institute of Justice Danica Szarvas-Kidd Bureau of Justice Assistance Kim Norris Bureau of Justice Assistance 22