Little Village Gang Violence Reduction Project
Axios
Effectiveness

Promising

.

.

.

.

.

Promising

Want to know more about this classification? Check out our methodological manual.

Description

This is a program against violent groups to reduce lethal violence in selected communities with high rates of violence.
There are five strategies for its implementation:
1) Community mobilization, involving local residents and social organizations;
2) Social intervention, targeting vulnerable young people at risk of joining gangs. This stage includes family counseling, referral to specialized services in the treatment of drug abusers, vocational training activities, and educational or recreational programs;
3) Provision of social opportunities, taking into account the age and individual needs of gang-involved youth. Those approaching adulthood receive vocational training to access the job market and alternative schools or family counseling;
4) Suppression, which involves surveillance, detention and/or probation to prevent violent behavior, but also involves increased communication between social service providers and the police;
5) Organizational change and development of local agencies and groups, with integrated and collaborative work between program services and former gang youth who volunteer in the program.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that the program reduced arrests for violent crime, serious violent crime, and drug-related crime, but had no effect on arrests for property crime [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Spergel, I. A., Wa, K. M., Grossman, S., Jacob, A., Choi, S., Sosa, R., ... & Lyndes, K. (2003). The Little Village gang violence reduction project in Chicago. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration.

Information source