NCJ Number
226744
Journal
Journal of Experimental Criminology Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 63-82
Date Published
March 2009
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study reassessed the Indianapolis study which conducted an assessment of a “pulling levers” intervention on homicide reduction, by disaggregating the offenses into gang- and non-gang homicides.
Abstract
Prior research indicated that homicide in Indianapolis experienced a statistically significant decline of 34.1 percent following the Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership (IVRP) pulling levers initiative. The results examining the change in disaggregated homicides indicated that gang homicides experienced statistically significant decline of 38.1 percent following the IVRP. Since the publication of analyses suggesting the significant impact on youth homicide of the Boston “pulling levers” intervention, a series of studies of similar strategies have indicated promise in reducing homicide and gun assaults. One of these studies was an assessment of a pulling levers strategy in Indianapolis (the IVRP), where trend analyzes indicated a significant reduction in homicide following the intervention. This current study reassessed the previous study by positing that the pulling levers intervention should have its greatest impact on gang homicides. The study assessed whether gang homicides decreased at a greater rate than did non-gang homicides in order to test the hypothesized intervention effect and to minimize the concern that substantive external factors were the reason for the overall decline in homicide following the IVRP pulling levers initiative. Tables, figures, and references