An Evaluation of Gang Hot-Spots Policing in Chicago

This grant award will fund an independent process and outcome evaluation of gang hot-spots policing in Chicago, to be conducted by the University of Illinois-Chicago. Gang hot-spots policing plays a central role in the Chicago Police Department's (CPD) current violence reduction initiative and has received national attention. However, to date no systematic study has examined the implementation and effectiveness of this strategy in Chicago, when and how it is most effective, and how best to apply it to reduce violent gang activity, including drug markets and firearm use. The process evaluation will include a comprehensive qualitative analysis of the entire gang hot-spots policing process. The outcome evaluation will include highly localized and detailed time series and spatial analyses, examining whether crime is reduced in gang hot-spot locations following program implementation. The outcome evaluation will take into account a variety of rival explanations for changes in gang violence in target areas through an Advisory Committee of experts conducting other programs targeting similar crimes.
CA/NCF