Understanding and Preventing Gang Violence: Problem Analysis and Response Development in Lowell, Massachusetts

Understanding and Preventing Gang Violence: Problem Analysis and Response Development in Lowell, Massachusetts

Anthony Braga, Jack McDevitt and Glenn PiercePolice QuarterlyVol. 9 No. 12006pp20-4

Braga et al. (2006) provide a preliminary evaluation of a problem oriented policing (POP) program undertaken in Lowell, MA. The strategy was designed to accomplish two objectives: identify patterns in gun related violence and homicides, and determine whether firearm violence and particularly homicides were a result gang related activities. Following problem-oriented approaches that have produced successful results in Boston and Minneapolis, researchers began to investigate firearm-related crimes in Lowell.

Official data sources from various agencies were used to gauge the extent of firearm-related violence. Their inquiry led them to conclude that Lowell had experienced an increase in firearm-related violence between 2000 and 2002 and, moreover, this violence was concentrated in disadvantaged neighborhoods and committed disproportionately by young, minority males (Braga et al., 2006). Upon further investigation, they found that a majority of offenders and victims were repeatedly involved in criminal activity. Over 80 percent of offenders and over 45 percent of victims had at least one prior on their record and a substantial number were on active probation (Braga et al., 2006).

Having identified patterns in firearm-related violence and basic demographic characteristics of offenders and victims, researchers next investigated whether gangs were responsible for Lowell’s increase in gun crimes. Offenders and victims involved in firearm-related incidents were matched against the Lowell Police Department’s (LPD) gang member database to determine if they were associated with a gang (Braga et al., 2006). If there was no match in the database, researchers conducted focus groups with LPD Investigative Services Division and the Gang Unit to assist with identifying known gang members. Based on their examination, it was determined that over 70 percent of homicides and 35 percent of gun assaults were committed by offenders considered to be associated with a gang (Braga et al., 2006).

The initiative in Lowell used a successful programmatic feature from Boston’s Project Ceasefire known as “lever-pulling”. More specifically, high-risk offenders were targeted and informed they were being watched and that any violation of the law would be met with the most severe sanction possible (Braga et al., 2006). Lowell, MA represents a unique scenario in that one of the primary gangs is Asian. The structure and operating techniques of Asian gangs differs from more traditional gangs. Braga et al. (2006) report that elderly members control the actions of younger members and, in order to reduce associated firearm violence, LPD was better served to pressure the illegal gambling halls operated by these elderly members. LPD believed they would be more successful at indirectly controlling gun violence in the Asian community by threatening the primary enterprise of Asian gang elders. Although gang elders were not often involved in violent criminal acts themselves, LPD threatened to close down their gambling rings if younger Asian gang members associated with them committed violent crimes (Braga et al., 2006).

The authors only report results from preliminary simple analyses. Examining nine months prior to implementing their problem-oriented approach and nine months after, researchers found that Lowell’s homicide rate was reduced by 50 percent and gun violence in general declined by 24 percent (Braga et al., 2006). Rigorous statistical analysis is necessary to rule out other possible explanations for the sharp decline in firearm-related violence. Notwithstanding this caveat, Braga et al.’s study provides a detailed framework for researchers to follow when implementing a problem-oriented policing approach. This preliminary evaluation demonstrated how problem-oriented responses might have to be augmented as more information is learned, as was the case with their response to Asian gangs. Although a complete evaluation of the Lowell, MA project has yet to be published, in light of other research findings the preliminary results reported here suggest that “lever-pulling” continues to be a successful law enforcement intervention.

Charles F. Klahm IV University of Cincinnati, USA