Can gun violence be deterred at low cost? We report the results of a randomized experiment of a messaging intervention which was designed to reduce gun violence among individuals under parole supervision with a prior violent felony conviction or firearm arrest. The intervention consisted of a group meeting in which high-risk paroled individuals were notified of the sanction they would face upon reoffending while being offered community resources to support re- integration into the community. The program did not lead to a reduction in gun violence or create community spillover effects but did reduce parole violations by 15%. Potential mechanisms and implications for similar programs are discussed.
Authors
Oludamilare Aboaba, Aaron Chalfin, Michael LaForest Tucker, Lucie Parker, Patrick Sharkey
- Acknowledgements & Disclosure
- The authors greatly appreciate the support and partnership of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the University of Chicago Crime Lab in completing this study. Data used in this study is provided by DCJS and DOCCS. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not those of DCJS or DOCCS. Neither New York State nor DCJS or DOCCS assumes liability for its contents or use thereof. The authors would also like to thank Meredith Stricker, Sibella Matthews, Zachary Honoroff, Julia Imperatore, and Hays Golden for their invaluable assistance and Anthony Braga, Benjamin Hansen, and Sara Heller for helpful comments on earlier drafts of the paper. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Aaron Chalfin None.
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3386/w32455
- Published in
- United States of America
