Violence Reduction Programs Research Articles

A cluster analytic examination and external validation of psychopathic offender subtypes in a multisite sample of Canadian federal offenders.

The present study is a cluster analytic examination and validation of psychopathic offender subtypes from 4 combined samples of Canadian federally incarcerated offenders, most of whom were serving sentences for violent offenses. The men were rated on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 1991, 2003) on the basis of comprehensive file information and 314 cases were extracted using a PCL-R total cut score of 25. Cluster analysis of the 4 PCL-R facets converged at a 2-cluster solution: a primary subtype characterized by prominent interpersonal and affective features of psychopathy and a secondary subtype characterized by comparatively few interpersonal features and high scores on the remaining facets. Validation analyses found that the vast majority of primary psychopathic offenders (74.1%) were White or of non-Aboriginal descent in contrast to the secondary subtype (47.6%). Secondary psychopathic offenders tended to be actuarially higher risk, have greater criminogenic needs, and to make greater amounts of treatment change on criminogenic targets; however, contrary to expectations, within-treatment changes from a violence reduction program were significantly associated with reductions in violent recidivism for primary, but not secondary, variants. There were few differences in rates of recidivism between the groups overall; secondary variants had higher rates of sexual violence which was largely accounted for by individual differences in baseline static risk. Implications for risk assessment, treatment planning, and the classification and etiology of primary and secondary psychopathy are discussed.

Community Stabilization and Violence Reduction: Lessons from Darfur

Ravaged by years of conflict and environmental decline, Darfur’s economy has been unable to create sufficient opportunities for youth, creating a link between social instability and high concentration of youth without productive employment. In 2011, the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) designed a community stabilization and violence reduction programme to bridge a critical gap between the increasing ‘youth bulge’ and the government's capacity to deliver youth empowerment and job creation solutions to youth in Darfur, leading to militarization of youth. The programme offers vocational skills training and temporary employment of youth through implementation of community-based labour intensive projects (CLIPs). Youth are targeted in particular, since they are an essential part of the solution to resolving the conflict in Darfur. Youth tend to be directly involved in hostilities and are seen to be most likely to return to the battlefield. At the same time, youth are often the community members most open to engaging in post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding activities. Since the conception of the programme in 2011, a total of 58 projects were implemented in 45 communities, and directly targeted over 9,000 youth. In a situation where the peace agreement is non-inclusive and the level of violence against unarmed civilians is high, CLIPs have played an important role in community stabilization and violence reduction in Darfur, building trust, contributing to a secure environment and helping build the foundation for longer term peace and development. As recognition of its contribution to peace and stability in Darfur, in October 2014, UNAMID’s CLIPs programme received the UN 21 Award for Outstanding Vision.

Diaspora and peer support working: benefits of and challenges for the Butabika-East London Link.

The International Health Partnership ('the Link') between the East London NHS Foundation Trust and Butabika Hospital in Uganda was set up in 2005. It has facilitated staff exchanges and set up many workstreams (e.g. in child and adolescent psychiatry, nursing and psychology) and projects (e.g. a peer support worker project and a violence reduction programme). The Link has been collaborative and mutually beneficial. The authors describe benefits and challenges at individual and organisational levels. Notably, the Link has achieved a commitment to service user involvement and an increasingly central involvement of the Ugandan diaspora working in mental health in the UK.

Women Married by Age 18 May Receive Reduced Benefits from Partner Violence–Reduction Programs

Women Married by Age 18 May Receive Reduced Benefits from Partner Violence–Reduction Programs

The prison adjustment of Aboriginal offenders

This study examined the misconduct of all 18,075 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders admitted to Canadian federal prisons between 2006 and 2009. We found that Aboriginal prisoners had a higher involvement in incidents of major and minor misconduct than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Consistent with prior prison research, younger prisoners, males, and those with higher levels of risk and dynamic needs had higher involvement in misconduct as perpetrators. By contrast, prisoners who had participated in violence reduction or substance abuse programs were involved in fewer incidents. Both gang involvement and victimization were also robust predictors of prison misconduct. These findings can guide the development of programmatic responses to help offenders develop better skills to adjust to their incarceration and successfully reintegrate in the community following release from prison. Consistent with the Statistics Canada (2013) definition, Aboriginal refers to persons who are Status Indians, Métis peoples (people of mixed Indian and other ethnicities) and Inuit peoples (persons from the far North).

The El Salvador Gang Truce and the Church: What Was the Role of the Catholic Church?

El Salvador and its Central American neighbors are experiencing a terrible tide of criminal violence. Homicide rates are some of the highest in the world. This scourge of violent crime is a major concern of policymakers both in the region and in Washington, DC. Indeed, through regional security initiatives the U.S. government has invested more than $500 million in violence reduction programs during the last five years. European development agencies and international NGOs, similarly, have privileged violence reduction in their programs of financial and technical assistance to El Salvador and neighboring countries. Until recently, however, no policy initiatives seem to have made a significant dent in the problem. This paper addresses one development that has been portrayed in some circles as game-changing, and that now constitutes a critical point of reference for violence reduction programs going forward. The truce among rival gangs in El Salvador worked out in March 2012, which has held since that time, has reduced homicides to half their previous levels. The paper examines in particular the widely held belief that the Catholic Church “brokered” that truce in light of the wider set of actors actually responsible and considers the various ways that religion may have an impact on contemporary violence in the region.

The Violence Reduction Programme: a treatment programme for violence-prone forensic clients

The Violence Reduction Programme (VRP) is a treatment programme designed to reduce the risk of violence for individuals with antisocial and/or violent histories. The VRP was developed based on integrating the risk, need and responsivity (RNR) principles with contemporary clinical and offender rehabilitation techniques such as using cognitive-behavioural, relapse prevention and motivational interviewing approaches. Further the integration of risk assessment and treatment was achieved within the VRP by using the Violence Risk Scale, also developed based on RNR principles, to assess violence risk, criminogenic needs treatment responsivity and treatment changes. Unlike highly scripted programmes, treatment progress in the VRP is assessed based on achieving specific treatment goals rather than completing a specific number of sessions. As such, the VRP is sufficiently flexible to accommodate participants with quite diverse needs. Results of programme evaluations with long-term follow-up and the inclusion of control groups indicates that programme participation was linked to the reduction of general and violent reoffending. The programme also appears to be effective in treating offenders with significant psychopathic traits.

Health and relationships in violence reduction participants: indirect effects of angry temperament

Treatment compliance is a considerable challenge for participants in anger management and violence reduction programs. Participants often exhibit low readiness to change, deficient problem-solving skills, and poor problem awareness. The legal and social consequences of unregulated anger and violence have been well established; however, the personal impact of these behaviors on the functioning of perpetrators has not been as well investigated. We addressed this gap in the literature by examining the relationships between angry temperament, conflict management tactics, social problem-solving, and quality of life factors in participants court-ordered to violence reduction treatment. Bootstrapped mediation models indicated that angry temperament had a significant indirect effect on subjective health through negative problem orientation. These findings have important implications for enhancing readiness to change and the quality of life among violent offenders.

Risk reduction treatment of high-risk psychopathic offenders: The relationship of psychopathy and treatment change to violent recidivism.

The relationships of psychopathy, therapeutic change, and violent recidivism were examined in a sample of 152 high-risk violent offenders treated in a high-intensity violence reduction program at the Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) in Saskatoon, SK. The Violence Risk Scale (VRS; Wong & Gordon, 1999-2003) and Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; Hare, 1991, 2003) were rated on the sample. As an extension on a prior psychometric study of the VRS (Lewis, Olver, & Wong, 2012), the associations of therapeutic change scores, obtained from pre- and posttreatment ratings of VRS dynamic items, and violent recidivism were examined among high-risk psychopathic offenders (mean PCL-R >25) over approximately 5 years' follow-up. Positive therapeutic change correlated negatively with the PCL-R, particularly Factor 1 and the Affective facet, and was significantly associated with reductions in violent recidivism after controlling for psychopathy. The association of change to violent outcome decreased, however, when controlling for the Affective facet. Taken together, the present results suggest that risk-related treatment changes demonstrated by high-risk psychopathic offenders can be predictive of reductions in violent recidivism, and that reliable measurements of therapeutic change may be informative about treatment outcome in a high-risk violent offender group.

Trends and Socioeconomic Correlates of Adolescent Physical Fighting in 30 Countries

No recent international studies provide evidence about its prevalence, trends, or social determinants of physical fighting in adolescents. We studied cross-national epidemiologic trends over time in the occurrence of frequent physical fighting, demographic variations in reported trends, and national wealth and income inequality as correlates. Cross-sectional surveys were administered in school settings in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Participants (N = 493874) included eligible and consenting students aged 11, 13, and 15 years in sampled schools from 30 mainly European and North American countries. Individual measures included engagement in frequent physical fighting, age, gender, participation in multiple risk behaviors, victimization by bullying, and family affluence. Contextual measures included national income inequality, absolute wealth and homicide rates. Temporal measure was survey cycle (year). Frequent physical fighting declined over time in 19 (63%) of 30 countries (from descriptive then multiple Poisson regression analyses). Contextual measures of absolute wealth (relative risk 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.93-0.99 per 1 SD increase in gross domestic product per capita) but not income inequality (relative risk 1.01, 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.05 per 1 SD increase) related to lower levels of engagement in fighting. Other risk factors identified were male gender, younger age (11 years), multiple risk behaviors, victimization by bullying, and national homicide rates. Between 2002 and 2010, adolescent physical fighting declined in most countries. Specific groups of adolescents require targeted violence reduction programs. Possible determinants responsible for the observed declines are discussed.

Investigating changes in anger and aggression in offenders with high levels of psychopathic traits attending the Chromis violence reduction programme

Chromis was accredited by the Correction Services Accreditation Panel in 2005 as an intervention designed to reduce violence in offenders whose level or combination of psychopathic traits disrupts their ability to engage in treatment and change. It runs as part of the regime in the dangerous and severe personality disorder unit in HM Prison Frankland (Westgate). A multiple case study investigation into changes over time in participants is currently underway, part of which is reported here. This paper reports on information relating to changes in anger and aggression in Chromis completers. Change in psychometrics and observed incidents of verbal and physical aggression are considered for five case study participants who have completed Chromis and progressed from Westgate to a different location. Findings suggest that cases experienced a reduction in self-reported anger, and expected incidents of physical aggression but had higher than expected levels of verbal aggression after leaving Westgate. These findings offer cautious optimism for the effectiveness of Chromis, although methodological limitations must also be considered. Findings may be seen as positive indicators of Chromis, or at least the approach to working with these offenders across Westgate, in reducing violence. Findings support the continued delivery and evaluation of Chromis. There may be benefit in exploring ways to further understand and address verbal aggression in participants.

Comprehensive gang and violence reduction programs

Comprehensive gang and violence reduction programs

Community-driven violence reduction programs

D espite some evidence of reductions (FBI, 2009a), violent crime remains among the most important social problems affecting the quality of life in communities throughout the United States. Aggregate reductions also mask the variability in violence among and within communities. The total number of persons annually victimized by violence remains high. In 2008, more than 9,000 persons were killed with guns (FBI, 2009b). In 2006, 71,000 persons suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds, and 2.1 million persons sustained an injury requiring emergency-room treatment as a result of a violent incident (CDC, 2010). Overall, more than six million individuals were victimized by crimes of violence in 2006 (BJS, 2007). One comprehensive review of gun research indicated that firearms play a significant role in violence and that young persons are particularly vulnerable to violence and death from firearms (Wellford, Pepper, and Petrie, 2005). The impact of violent crime on individuals, families, and communities is substantial. Some estimates indicate that the annual costs of gun violence are approximately $100 billion (Cook and Ludwig, 2000). The annual costs of all personal victimization by violence, including intangible losses such as pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life, are more than $450 billion (NIJ, 1996). This figure is dated and likely to be significantly higher today.

Overview of: “Community-driven violence reduction programs

Research Summary We assessed the effect of the One Vision One Life program on violence by comparing target areas with comparison areas constructed by propensity scores and by program staff recommendations, and by examining areas adjacent to the target areas. We found the program was not associated with changes in homicide but was associated with increases in aggravated and gun assaults. Whereas aggravated assaults increased in one spillover area and decreased in another, gun assaults increased in one spillover area and did not statistically change in the other. Policy Implications The findings raise several critical issues for similar and future initiatives. Among others, these include the transferability of success in programs elsewhere and elements missing in the Pittsburgh implementation. Successful results from similar programs suggest the promise of these programs, whereas the Pittsburgh results suggest the need for continued rigorous evaluation.

Social contextual factors contributing to child and adolescent labor: an ecological analysis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between social contextual factors and child and adolescent labor. METHODS: Population-based cohort study carried out with 2,512 families living in 23 subareas of a large urban city in Brazil from 2000 to 2002. A random one-stage cluster sampling was used to select families. Data were obtained through individual household interviews using questionnaires. The annual cumulative incidence of child and adolescent labor was estimated for each district. New child and adolescent labor cases were those who had their first job over the two-year follow-up. The annual cumulative incidence of child and adolescent labor was the response variable and predictors were contextual factors such as lack of social support, social deprivation, unstructured family, perceived violence, poor school quality, poor environment conditions, and poor public services. Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression were used to assess the associations. RESULTS: There were selected 943 families corresponding to 1,326 non-working children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years. Lack of social support, social deprivation, perceived violence were all positively and individually associated with the annual cumulative incidence of child and adolescent labor. In the multiple linear regression model, however, only lack of social support and perceived violence in the neighborhood were positively associated to child and adolescent labor. No effect was found for poor school quality, poor environment conditions, poor public services or unstructured family. CONCLUSIONS: Poverty reduction programs can reduce the contextual factors associated with child and adolescent labor. Violence reduction programs and strengthening social support at the community level may contribute to reduce CAL.

The Impact of Newark's Operation Ceasefire on Trauma Center Gunshot Wound Admissions

We examined the impact of Newark's Operation Ceasefire on gunshot wound admissions (GSW) to the Level 1 Trauma Center at University Hospital for a three-year period. Interrupted time series analyses revealed that there were no statistically significant reductions in GSW rates in the Ceasefire Zone after the introduction of Ceasefire in Newark. Similarly, there were no statistically significant changes in GSW rates in the matched comparison zone or the Trauma Center's wider catchment area. A dual kernel density hot spot map confirmed these findings by identifying changes in hot spots that were non-systematic, with no consistent pattern of change over time. Future research should focus on conducting both process and outcome evaluations of the various adaptations of the Ceasefire model in order to help inform policy makers' decisions regarding the selection of violence reduction programs.

Making Youth Violence Prevention a National Priority

Making Youth Violence Prevention a National Priority

Neighbourhood Peacekeeping: The Inter-American Development Bank's Violence Reduction Programs in Colombia and Uruguay

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) incorporated, nearly a decade ago, violence prevention in its lending portfolio. Since the first citizen security project loan was approved, the IDB has accumulated valuable experience on the design and implementation of violence prevention operations, placing the Bank at the forefront of this type of lending in the region. To date, the IDB has financed more than US$150 million for six citizen security loans, technical cooperation projects, and international seminars and meetings. In addition, several other citizen security projects are in advanced stages of design. This report overviews the Bank's work in this area, analysing, based on available data from completed projects, what works and the challenges that remain in reducing and preventing crime and violence. For example, Colombia (Bogotá) and Uruguay have completed their operations with success in the areas of community policing, institutional strengthening, community mediation units, domestic and youth violence prevention, and social awareness campaigns. This report also presents recommendations to maximise benefits and increase the effectiveness of the interventions in future project loans. Despite the accomplishments in this area, it is important to emphasise that crime and violence prevention is not a ‘one shot deal’ but a process that ought to be sustained over time and governments in the region must fully commit to combat it.

Theory Development and Evaluation of Project WIN

There is a need for an effective violence reduction program for early adolescents in schools. Social psychologists have had success teaching adolescents integrative negotiation strategies that help them to resolve potentially violent conflicts. The caveat is that these strategies are effective only in cooperative social contexts and backfire in competitive social contexts. To develop an effective violence reduction program, we must not only teach young people skills of integrated negotiation; we must also present complementary strategies to help them transform competitive social contexts into cooperative social contexts. The purpose of this study was to present a violence reduction program, entitled Project WIN (Working out Integrated Negotiations), which accomplished both of these goals. The target group was fifth-graders in a low-income, urban community. Plans for further evaluation of Project WIN and greater investment of educators and researchers in the behavioral technology of violence reduction are discussed.

Facial trauma: a recurrent disease? The potential role of disease prevention

Purpose The objectives of this investigation were to determine a profile of facial trauma patients presenting to the emergency department of University Hospital, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, and to assess patient interest in violence or stress reduction programs. Materials and methods A prospective study of the patients was conducted with the aid of a data collection form generated specifically for the purpose of this study. Data regarding patient age, race, gender, various aspects of social history, mechanism, and nature of injury were collected over a period of 1 year. In addition, all patients were asked to respond to 4 health promotion questions. All patients for whom the oral maxillofacial surgery service was consulted were included in the study. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was used. Results A total of 92 patients were enrolled, of whom 80% were males. The mean age of patients enrolled was 30.5 years with the peak incidence of injury occurring in the 20- to 30-year-old age group (n = 30). The most frequent etiology was assault (75%), followed by motor vehicle accidents (18.5%). The most frequently occurring injury was mandible fracture (46.7%), followed by lacerations (42.4%). Within the study sample, 42.4% had previous injuries. Patients with facial injuries were 1.5 times more likely to have experienced previous interpersonal violence. This patient group also expressed an overwhelming willingness to change their behavior patterns (91.3%). Conclusions The findings of this investigation indicated that most facial trauma patients are between the ages of 20 and 30 years and male. Assault is the most common etiologic agent resulting in facial trauma. Mandible fractures and lacerations are the most likely injuries in the facial trauma patient. Patients experiencing recurrent trauma due to assault are more responsive to violence reduction programs than those experiencing only 1 assault.