Paving the Way for Project Safe Neighborhoods: SACSI in 10 U.S. Cities

• NCJ Number: 216298
• Author(s): Jan Roehl; Dennis P. Rosenbaum; Sandra K. Costello; James R. Coldren Jr.; Amie M. Schuck; Laura Kunard; David R. Forde
• Date Published: April 2008
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Research in Brief
• Grant Number(s): 1999-IJ-CX-K013
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

This report presents findings from a national assessment of the U.S. Department of Justice Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) approach launched in 10 cities throughout the United States targeting predominantly homicide, youth violence, or firearms violence.

Abstract

The assessment study, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, found that the Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) approach, when implemented effectively, was associated with reductions in targeted violent crimes, sometimes by as much as 50 percent. Successful elements of the SACSI approach include the leadership provided by United States Attorneys’ Offices, the integration of research into the planning and intervention strategies, collaborative strategic planning, and implementation of a range of intervention strategies. SACSI was a multipronged effort in 10 cities that aimed to bring together some of the best practices known to date for reducing and preventing violent crime, adapting the process used in Boston’s Operation Ceasefire project. Boston’s project included multiagency collaboration, integration of research into program planning and implementation, and strategic problem solving. Other successful program elements include the use of homicide and incident reviews for problem analysis, the key involvement of probation officers, and successful firearms prosecutions. This report provides key findings from a national evaluation on the effectiveness of the SACSI approach. Researchers documented and assessed partnership formation and dynamics, strategic planning, problem solving activities, the integration of research into the site strategies and activities, program longevity, and program impact. Exhibits and notes