Monday, August 4, 2008

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This panel session will examine three lines of research with important implications for policies about violent crime: police gang task forces; violence and probation; and the intersection of violent offenders and property crimes.

Research on the first two issues is summarized in articles published in November, 2007, in Criminology and Public Policy, a journal of the American Society of Criminology. The November issue presents 27 short "research-to-policy" articles including: "Expand the Use of Police Gang Units," by Scott Decker; and "Use Probation to Prevent Murder," by Lawrence W. Sherman.

Research on the third issue comes from research funded by the National Institute of Justice on burglary and the use of DNA evidence to identify and arrest property crime suspects. The value of this technology - and of a focus on property crimes - extends beyond burglary; the results of the study show the significant overlap between property offenses and more serious violent offenses. The research was conducted by the Urban Institute.

The purpose of this session is to generate discussions among policy makers, practitioners, and researchers about the evidence for criminal justice policies designed to reduce violent crime.

Moderator:

• Ed Zedlewski, Deputy Assistant Director, National Institute of Justice

Presenters:

• Scott Decker, Professor & Director, Arizona State University, School of Criminology & Criminal Justice
• John Roman, Senior Research Associate, Justice Policy Center, Urban Institute