SPI Findings

2022 SPI Map and Findings graphic

Learn more about SPI site successes as it relates to gun violence, and violence reduction through our SPI Successes One-Pagers or using the below table.

Site	Implementation	Research Design & Findings	Topic
St. Louis, MO2018	The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) focused on reducing violent crime by deploying three mobile surveillance trailers (MST). SLMPD targeted crimes such as gun violence and theft of and from vehicles. Each MST was equipped with license plate readers (LPR), cameras and gunshot detection. A total of 95 MST deployments occurred in micro hotspots between June 2020 and July 2022. In addition to the three MSTs, a fourth shell trailer was purchased to serve as a placebo so that researchers could examine if any deterrent impact of the trailers was the outcome of enhanced intelligence capacity or whether the mere presence of the units deter crime by themselves. To measure if the deployments were effective, SLMPD also tracked crime trends in similar high violence areas that did not receive trailers (control areas).	Research Design The procedure to create the deployment locations for the MSTs were developed in geospatial software (ArcGIS). An optimized hot spot model that used RMS data was developed to identify areas in the selected district that saw the most incidents. This procedure created hexagonal tiles across each district. Researchers implemented a randomized control trial (RCT) design and eight of the tiles were selected and then randomized to either treatment or control status. Two technology surveys were also conducted, and researchers explored how personnel in the department viewed the MSTs compared to other technology. The first was conducted at the beginning stages of implementation, and the second was conducted near the conclusion of the grant. Findings Widespread support within the department for the use of crime-fighting technology; however, perceptions of specific technologies were closely related to perceived personal success with them. Integrating gunshot detection in MSTs is unlikely to be helpful. The MSTs indicated moderate crime reductions (~20%) for gunfire and thefts in a 500 feet area. However, these reductions did not attain statistical significance. There were no substantial differences in deterrent impact regardless of whether the MSTs were fully functional or not but given that they had far fewer deployments of the placebo unit (18 placebo, versus 77 functional), it may be too early to tell if deterrent benefits are truly equal—as the crime numbers around placebo units fluctuated more.	Technology, Violence Reduction
Toledo, OH2014	The Toledo Police Department organized a prolific offender unit, entitled the Special Intelligence Group (SIG), consisting of one sergeant, four detectives, and a crime analyst. This unit was trained and equipped to gather intelligence and conduct undercover surveillance of prolific serious offenders. The research partners developed and tested an empirically based Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) Scoring Matrix – a risk assessment tool for identifying those most at risk of committing a new robbery, burglary, or aggravated assault offense within the next year.	Research Design A quasi-experimental research design, examining the numbers of reported crimes within the geographic area identified as the “awareness space” of all of the prolific offenders as well examining reported crimes and calls for services within these areas. Findings Implementation of the prolific offender program activities coincided with statistically significant reductions in the specific crimes targeted by the program. Robberies declined 3.9%, burglaries declined 20.1%, and aggravated assaults declined 16.1% in these specific geographical areas. Overall reports of crime decreased 1.3%, auto thefts decreased 8.5%, and thefts from autos decreased 14.1%, and total calls for police services decreased 3.1% within these awareness spaces after the project began.	Violence Reduction