Problem-Solving Approaches to Homicide: An Evaluation of the Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership

Abstract

Indianapolis experienced record levels of homicide in the mid-1990s. Officials decided to use a problem-solving strategy that modeled a successful program implemented in Boston. The Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership involved a coalition of criminal justice and community agencies using a problem-solving approach to violence. The strategic response included having multiple agencies respond to homicide incidents, directing resources to crimes committed by chronic offenders, and having notification meetings with high-risk probationers and parolees. This research focuses on two issues. First, we describe the impact on homicide. Second, we evaluate the effectiveness of the notification meetings. The results indicate that homicides declined, and the evaluation of the notification meetings shows that arrestees thought the criminal justice system was more effective at responding to crime, however, probationers/parolees were not less likely to recidivate compared to a matched control group. The implications for using problem-solving strategies to respond to homicide are discussed.