Evaluation of Indianapolis Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative, Final Report

Abstract

Through collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the City of Indianapolis/Marion County, and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, a steering committee was formed to plan and execute activities for the three-pronged approached focusing on prevention, law enforcement, and reentry programs to diminish gang activity in Indianapolis. The CAGI Steering Committee was comprised of representatives from the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, community leaders, and members of the faith community. Three subcommittees also were created to oversee the three initiatives (law enforcement, prevention/intervention, and reentry)..

In July 2008, the Center for Criminal Justice Research (CCJR), part of the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, was engaged to serve as the research partner for CAGI. Throughout the program, CCJR provided feedback on implementation, input on data collection, and gathered a considerable amount of information for evaluating law enforcement, prevention/intervention, and reentry activities. This report summarizes the history of the grant and expenditures, recaps CAGI research activities undertaken in 2009 and 2010, and discusses research activities across all three areas in 2011 and 2012, concluding with lessons learned during the entire grant period.