BJA Publication Highlights Evidence-Based Strategies to Reducing Gun Violence

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), in coordination with the Smart Policing Initiative released a publication titled SMART Approaches to Reducing Gun Violence. The publication reviews the common strategies that have been employed across nine of the thirty-five SPI-funded sites nationwide where police agencies have targeted gun violence. The common strategies identified for implementation in the nine SPI sites include: •Targeting persistent gun violence hot spots. •Targeting prolific offenders in persistent hot spots. •Employing new technologies and advanced crime analysis. •Engaging a wide range of collaborative partners. Findings from the nine SPI-funded law enforcement agencies offer important insights regarding effective approaches to reducing gun violence. The publication also reveals the importance of developing the analytical and evaluation infrastructure required to sufficiently design and test proactive, risk-focused strategies. This publication concludes that a wide application of evidence-based strategies proven to significantly reduce gun violence, along with programs that promote decision-making based on improved data and analytical methods, would be a sensible investment in public safety. To download the publication, click here.