NATIONAL FORUM on

YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION October 31, 2011

S. Gregory Baker, former Executive DirectorCincinnati Police Department (retired)

300% Increase

City-wide effort initiated April 2007 to dramatically reduce gun violence

Loosely model after Boston’s Operation Ceasefire

Partners community, service providers and law enforcement to deliver key message:

The Violence Must Stop

Data Driven Evidence Based Approach Reduces Incarceration Strengthens Relationships between Law Enforcement and Communities

Addresses Racial Conflict Helps Offenders

The Violence Problem

When Gun Violence Spikes

When a Homicide Occurs

A few active chronic offenders commit majority of violence

Offenders loosely organized in groups/gangs Most violence based on disrespect,

reputation, beefs, turf - norms/narratives of the street

Violence can be impacted through group pressure

Sustained communication with streets

0.5%

60.8% 64.0%69.1%

49.3% 53.3% 54.9%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Cincinnati Population

2005 N=79

2006 N=89

2007 N=68

2008 N=75

2009 N=60

2010 N=71

Non Group Member

Violent Group Member

2005 – 2010 Homicides

Champion - advocate and elicit support Professor David Kennedy –expert consultant Political Endorsement/Support Administrative Support/Resources Police Command Staff-top level buy-in and

visible involvement Community Support Corporate Support Academic Community Support

Role: Overall responsibility and key barrier busting

Role: Develop/deploy strategy; get resources; monitor results; key decisions

Maintain team structure and ownership over time

Role: Develop/Execute the action plan for the strategy

2007:◦ 68 violent groups◦ 746 known individuals

2008:◦ 48 violent groups◦ 1,169 known individuals

2009:◦ 68 violent groups◦ 1,095 known individuals

1. Traditional “Call-in” sessions (offender notification meetings)• 8 call-ins since Jul 2007 (28 individual sessions)• 568 identified group/gang members have

attended• 43% have attended multiple sessions

2. Probationer notification meetings• 4 meetings since Dec 2009• 45 probations attending (average 11 per session)

3. Prisoner notification meetings• 4 meetings since Oct 2009 (River City &

Lebanon)• 168 prisoners attending

4. Community Conversations• Union Terminal, Aug 2009 – 42 attendees• Freedom Center, Nov 2009 – 50 attendees

5. Community Engagement Events• Multiple types of events to engage and

empower community members

6. Street Advocate “Violence Interruptions”• Jan 2009 – Dec 2010: 75 potentially violent

events interrupted

7. Law Enforcement “Home Visits”• Since Sep 2008: 508 visits attempted; 163

offenders contacted• 36% success rate• New tactic – jail and street visits

ENFORCEMENT• 17 Groups/Gangs Targeted• 223 Physical Custody Arrests• 17 Federal Indictments

Specific Violent Group/Gang Round-Ups• Taliband (Nov 2008)• 95 count indictment• 71 arrests• Largest state gang prosecution in County

• Madville (Sept 2009) 30 individuals charged with 110 felonies

Service Providers Street Advocates Professional Rehabilitation Agency Social Service Agencies Workforce Development Agencies

Step IIndividual calls CIRV Hotline and assigned a Street Advocate. Client screened for violence propensity and develops Life Change Plan.

Step IIClient taken to rehabilitation service provider to determine risk, need and treatment.

Step IIIThe Advocate assists Client in addressing substance abuse, criminogenic behavior and antisocial attitudes.

Step IVClient provided pre-employment services.

Step V Client enters Workforce

Development Services

Step VIAdvocates continue to

provide coaching/mentoring.

Clients Receiving Services• 622 clients contacted Street Advocates• 325 referred to job training• 199 completed job training• 104 obtained first job• 100 completed at least 75% of their Life Change

Plan

Clients Receiving Services• 93% male• 93% Black• 84% unemployed• 61% less than high school education • 69% felony record• 99% assessed as high risk for future violent

behavior

Goal is to change affected community norms regarding violence: “moral voice”

◦ Empower Neighborhoods to Exert Informal Social Control

◦ Articulate anti-violence pro-social messaging: Gun Violence in not Acceptable

◦ Enlist influential community members to dissuade and “coach” those at risk

◦ Provide support and outreach following violent incidents

West End Stakeholders Meeting◦ 50 community members met, organizing crime prevention efforts

Tot Lot Take Back: Reclaiming public spaces for positive use Community after-care: Intervening with at-risk youth, hot spots

“Mothers for Peace” Walk◦ 123 Community members participated over Mother’s Day weekend◦ Participants provided support and access to resources

“Pastors for Peace” Conference◦ Faith-based representatives

met to address a surge in violence

◦ 33 Avondale community members were recruited and trained to conduct outreach

Community Influencers Training◦ 3 mothers who lost sons to gun

violence were trained to speak at call-ins

◦ Their stories had a visible effect on at-risk offenders

4

14

19

25

30

38

48

56

63

7376

80

58

20

29

37

43

52

58

70

7579

88

912

2023

28

33

39

5054

5862

68

36

1216

21

28

36

45

55

63

7275

79

15

20

25

32

41

46 46

5254

59

15

1720

23

33

3741

50

60

66

71

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January February March April May June July August September October NovemberDecember

Cum

ulat

ive

hom

icid

e to

tal

Month

Monthly Cumulative Homicide Totals in Cincinnati, 2005-2010

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2

8

11

1720

24

30

3638

45

48 49

3 4

8

15

20

26

33

36

42

45

48

56

7

10

1719

2225

27

3639

4144

47

35 6

8

10 13

1723

28

31

37 37

3 4

8

1316 16

2224 24

26 27

31

13

11 11 12

17

20

24

30

3436

39

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

January February March April May June July August September October NovemberDecember

Cum

ulat

ive

hom

icid

e to

tal

Month

Cincinnati Cumulative Group Member Involved (GMI) Homicide Totals By Month, 2005-2010

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

37

70

98

148

182

237

293

349

382

427

457

487

4572

119

166

207

263

304

345

385

436

471

510

2744

7599

144

183

230

270

297318

340361

3040

67

109147

193

252

283

322

373

403

432

3354

91

127

166

197

243

288321

346

380

420

2144

91120

155

196

218

262

305

353

387

418

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

January February March April May June July August September October NovemberDecember

Cum

ulat

ive

Tot

al

Month

Cincinnati Cumulative Fatal & Non-fatal Shooting VictimsBy Month, 2005-2010

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

487510

361

432420 418

Total Fatal and Non-Fatal Shooting Victims By Year

37.7% reduction in GMI homicides 24 months after CIRV intervention

41.4% reduction in GMI homicides 42 months post implementation

22% reduction in firearm offenses after CIRV intervention

Study Period: January 1, 2004 – December 31, 2010

Evaluation Results:Evaluation Results:CIRV Impact on GMI CIRV Impact on GMI

HomicidesHomicides

Mr. S. Gregory Baker◦ BakerSG7@aol.com