Combatting Violent Crime with Pulling Levers and Hot Spots: A Multi-strategy Outcome Evaluation

• In Event: Policing Hot Spots

Abstract

The presence of violent crime has detrimental impacts on the communities resulting in a multitude of negative consequences. In an effort to combat violent crime in Louisville, a Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)grant was awarded to implement a pulling levers and hot spots strategy. In addition, to these evidence-based strategies the police department also created a violent crimes unit to focus on securing guns and conduct aggressive patrols in violent areas. The study conducts a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of the PSN initiatives on neighborhood level crime rates in Louisville. The four interventions are analyzed using growth curve models to examine the impact of the PSN interventions on total crime and violent crime.

Authors

• Brian Schaefer, University of Louisville

• Tom "Tad" Hughes, Southern Police Institute

• Dustin Osborne, University of Louisville