CeaseFire:
A Public Health Approach to
A Public Safety Problem
Youth Violence Prevention
Conference
April 5, 2012
All people deserve to live, learn, work,
play, raise families, and shop in safe
places.
Impact of Violence Epidemic
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Injuries and death
Fear and stress
School progress slowed
Economic development frozen
Residents move
CeaseFire’s role in achieving safe
communities in Chicago
Stop shootings
and
killings
Goal of CeaseFire
Stop shootings and killings by:
•
Working with those most closely
associated with the problem
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In those communities that are
disproportionately effected
•
Based on data and research
CeaseFire Theory, Critical Elements, Results
Public Health Approach
Violence is learned
from role models
Acts like an epidemic
La Peste d’Ashdod, 1630 - 1631, Nicolas Poussin
Characteristics of Violence and
Infectious Diseases
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One event leads to another
Highest risk factor = prior event
Geographically cluster
Incubation periods
Reduced by interrupting transmission and
changing norms
Theory, Data, Research
In Chicago…
• Nearly triple the national homicide rate
• Homicide is the leading cause of death for
those between 15-24
• All other efforts to improve systems and
services for Chicagoans are less effective
without violence reduction
Driven by
Theory,
Data,
Research
Greatest impact…
where violence is worst
and
thru working with those at highest risk of
involvement in a shooting or killing
Highest Risk Individuals
Meet 4 or more of the following:
• 16-25 years old
• Recently released from prison
• Recent victim of shooting
• Active in violent street organization
• History of violence/crimes against persons
• Weapons carrier
• Engaged in high risk activity
Spergel, 1995; Farrington et al, 1998; Wilkinson, 2009; Buss & Abdu,
1995
Right Approach
Outreach/Violence Interrupters:
Right Workers with the Right Skills
Identify/Detect, Interrupt, Re-direct
‘Credible Messengers’ are needed to change
behaviors & stop violence
•
From the local community born & raised, lived &
worked, represent the
demographics
•
Have experienced violence
- as a victim and
perpetrator
•
Many spent time in the
criminal justice system
Interruption and Mediation
Risk Reduction/Re-Direction
Alex
Risk Reduction/Re-Direction
Right Partners
Change Norms: Community Mobilization
Change Norms: Community Mobilization
Change Norms: Community Engagement
Change Norms: Community Engagement
Public Education
Results
We’ve gotten results
Reductions in shootings and killings
“Overall, the program areas grew
noticeably safer in six of the seven sites,
and we concluded that there was evidence
that decreases in the size and intensity of
shooting hot spots were linked to the
introduction of CeaseFire in four of those
areas…”
Skogan et al, May 2008
Changes in Shooting Hot Spots – Auburn Gresham
Reduced risk among participants
Changed the thinking about violence
“In addition to eliminating homicides in McElderry
Park, Safe Streets implementation was
associated with significant reductions in
homicides of victims under 30 years old in areas
bordering Ellwood Park…. Overall, the report
found that young men in the neighborhoods
where Safe Streets was implemented were
much less likely to hold attitudes supportive of
using guns to resolve disputes than were those
in two neighborhoods that had not implemented
the program.
The (Johns Hopkins) Gazette, January 2009
Lessons Learned
• Where we work
• Who we partner woth
• Who we hire
Strengths/weaknesses
Supervision/accountability
• Who we engage
Lessons Learned
• “Code of the streets”
• Relationships with law enforcement
• Change takes time
Individual behavior and thinking
Community-at-large
Thought leaders
For more information
www.ceasefirechicago.org