Evaluation of the Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program: Executive Summary and Final Report

• NCJ Number: 254623
• Author(s): Natalie Kroovand Hipple; Jessica Saunders
• Date Published: February 2020
• Length: 220 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2016-BJ-BX-K069
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Award: NIJ Evaluation of the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) Program

Annotation

This project conducted a multi-method study to 1) understand successful implementation of the innovations in Community Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) programs and to 2) provide guidance and identify sites for a possible follow-up impact evaluation.

Abstract

CBCR is a comprehensive strategy developed to assist neighborhoods in addressing crime and improve community safety. It is place-based and has four pillars that distinguish it from other similar data-driven, multi-agency, problemsolving collaborative programs. The four pillars are 1) the use of evidence-based programs that address specific problems; 2) involvement of residents in planning and implementing crime prevention measures; 3) the incorporation of a community revitalization component in project goals; and 4) the inclusion of a multi-agency partnerships across government and non-government sectors. The evaluation of CBCR program implementation found a tension between the local needs of the community and what the federal government viewed as an acceptable CBCR project. Many sites focused on issues that were not entirely based in criminal justice concerns, such as behavioral health, wellness, and trauma. This indicates the need to draw from the non-criminal justice evidence base for appropriate strategies and interventions that address various problem behaviors related to crime. The evaluation also found variability across sites that can impact implementation, including structural differences in government and economic and social climate; organization capacity in social services, criminal justice systems, and other local partners; neighborhood differences; and a variety of implementation strategies. These factors should be studied systematically to determine which influence intended program outcomes. 8 tables, 8 figures, and 7 references