Reno, Nevada

In Reno, there are several known hotspots that serve as the primary driving force behind the increase in violent crimes involving firearms. The Reno Police Department, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), seek to alleviate the adverse effects of these firearm-related crimes on the community and enhance public safety through innovation and evidence-based crime-control strategies. The multifaceted crime-control strategy to reduce firearm-related crime revolves around pulling levers, problem-oriented policing, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), surveillance, technology, educational campaigns against gun violence, and a gun buyback program. Using a quasi-experimental design, several police beats will be selected as potential localities for intervention. The police beats selected as the treatment groups will implement the crime-control strategy to reduce firearm-related violence, whereas the control beats will not receive the intervention. If the intervention is effective, the crime-control strategy may be instructive for other police departments experiencing similar increases in firearm-related crime in their city.