Evidence-Informed Approaches to Reducing Violence and Violent Extremism

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

This panel will explore strategies for reducing community violence and violent extremism. The first presentation concerns a systematic meta-review of more than 150 systematic reviews of strategies to address community violence. This deliberately broad study examines interventions that intervene to reduce violence focusing both on people and places.

The second presentation focuses on street outreach conflict mediation programs. These strategies have gained popularity in recent years as a community-based alternative to traditional law enforcement approaches. The discussion will examine the effectiveness of these strategies in reducing violence, as well as whether particular program elements or contexts impact the likelihood of success.

The final presentation analyzes psychosocial prevention programs that aim to address extremism, radicalization, and terrorism. Despite the heterogeneity in effectiveness and challenges in evaluation, preliminary findings show a positive impact on attitudes and critical thinking related to extremism, highlighting the importance of high-quality evaluations to improve these interventions. This session provides an overview of current research on violence and radicalization prevention, underscoring the critical need for effective, evidence-informed approaches.

Sub Unit

• Area III. Types of Offending / 11. Violent Crime

Individual Presentations

• Community Violence Reduction Strategies: An Overview Review of What Works - Catherine Kimbrell, George Mason University; David Wilson, George Mason University; Thomas Abt, University of Maryland; William Johnson, George Mason University

• Street outreach conflict mediation programs for reducing violence - Edward Maguire, Arizona State University; Cody Telep, Arizona State University; Thomas Abt, University of Maryland; Ericka Adams, San Jose State University

• The effectiveness of psychosocial prevention programs against extremism and violent radicalization: An international review and meta-analysis - Friedrich Loesel, Cambridge Institute of Criminology; Irina Jugl, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg; Sonja King, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg; Doris Bender, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg

Chair

• Thomas Abt, University of Maryland