Background
Homicide is the leading cause of death among 15-24 year old males in Milwaukee1 and there are formidable race and gender disparities in occurrence; for example the firearm homicide rate among black males between the ages of 15-24 is 170.44 versus 30.3 for white males of the same age, almost 6 times higher2,3. In 2004, leaders in Milwaukee including the Mayor, Police Chief, and District Attorney assembled a working team of professionals charged with reducing homicide in Milwaukee through the development of a homicide review process.
Purpose
The Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission (MHRC) is a multi-level, multi-disciplinary, and multi-agency homicide review process aimed at reducing the occurrence of homicides in Milwaukee. The MHRC creates an environment for many disciplines and agencies to share information and work collectively on violence prevention strategies.
Goals
Based upon the public health approach to violence reduction, the MHRC has three goals:
- To gain a better understanding of homicide through strategic problem analysis;
- To develop innovative, effective responses; and
- To focus limited enforcement and intervention activities on identifiable risks.
Progress
Since its inception, the MHRC has reviewed over 150 homicides, and developed over 100 recommendations based on themes that emerge from case reviews and focus on initiating change at system, agency/organization, and individual levels. An Interim Progress Report was released in May 2007 and a 2008 report is pending release in September.
Key Findings
The 30 criminal justice reviews, 15 community service provider reviews and 2 community reviews that covered cases from January 2005 through November 2007 revealed that homicides in the City's intervention districts were:
- largely clustered in very specific places, such as in and around taverns,
- largeley clustered around active offenders who were very well known to the criminal justice system, and
- often the outcome of an ongoing dispute between individuals and/or groups and involved respect, status, and retribution as motives.
Information Sharing
Enhanced information sharing would aid in investigations, prevention/deterrent strategies and allocation of resources. The Center for Urban Population Health conducted an Information Sharing Needs Assessment and provided recommendations to the MHRC.
Accomplishments
- Improved communication between local, state and federal criminal justice agencies;
- A comprehensive set of actionable recommendations which are being implemented and monitored by the MHRC;
- New strategic criminal justice activities;
- Changes in ineffective agency practices; and
- New cooperative efforts between community service providers.
Impact Evaluation
Using a time series of monthly counts of homicides in the control and treatment districts (January 1999-December 2006), implementation of MHRC interventions was associated with a statistically significant 52% decrease in the monthly count of homicides in treatment districts.
Academic Accomplishments
Awards
Outstanding Service by a Research Partner. United States Department of Justice, Project Safe Neighborhoods, September 18, 2007.
Outstanding Wisconsin Population Health Practice Paper. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's Improving Wisconsin's Health: Prevention, Policy and Priorities for Research Conference. Pewaukee, Wisconsin, November 2007.
Funding Sources
- Wisconsin Partnership Fund for a Healthy Future
- Project Safe Neighborhoods
- Violence Against Women Act
Project Leadership
Milwaukee Police Department
- Mallory O'Brien, Ph.D., Project Manager
- Deputy Chief Brian O'Keefe
- Laurie Woods, M.S., Researcher
Center for Urban Population Health
- Barbara Beck, Ph.D., Assistant Faculty Associate
- Ron Cisler, Ph.D., Academic Partner
Participating Community Service Agencies
- The Alma Center
- Asha Family Services
- Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Abuse Response Service
- Bayview Neighborhood Association*
- Benedict Center*
- Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Project Ujima
- Citizens of Milwaukee
- City of Milwaukee Health Department
- Community Development Block Grant Coordinating Agencies
- The Counseling Center of Milwaukee
- Harambee Ombudsman Project, Inc.
- Hillside Family Resource Center*
- Hope House
- Incarnation Lutheran Church*
- Latina Resource Center
- Lisbon Avenue Neighborhood Association*
- Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc.
- The Milwaukee Christian Center*
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Emergency Medicine Department
- Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services
- Milwaukee Housing Authority
- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
- Milwaukee Police Department, Community Liaison Officers
- Milwaukee Public Schools Public Safety Division
- Private Industry Council
- Project Safe Neighborhods
- Running Rebels
- Saint Adalbert's Church*
- Social Development Commission
- Sojourner Truth House
- Southside Organizing Committee
- Task Force on Family Violence, Inc.
- Urban Underground
- Various Faith-Based Agencies
- Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Wisconsin Community Services
Participating Criminal Justice Agencies
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program
- Milwaukee City Attorney's Office
- Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Community Prosecutors and Crisis Response Unit
- Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office
- Milwaukee Police Department
- Office of the District One Chief Judge
- US Attorney's Office
- US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- US Drug Enforcement Administration
- US Federal Bureau of Investigation
- US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- US Marshals Service
- UW-Milwaukee's Criminal Justice Department
- Wisconsin Department of Corrections
- Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation
- Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance
For More Information, contact:
Mallory O'Brien, Ph.D., Director
(414) 935-7985
mobrien@hsph.harvard.edu
*Agencies that have been invited and have committed to joining the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission.
1 Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Health Information and Policy. Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) data query system, http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/wish/, Mortality Module, accessed 08/15/07.
2 U.S. Census Bureau; Census 2000 Summary File (SF 1) 100-Percent Data; generated by Laurie Woods; using American FactFinder; http://factfinder.census.gov; (15 August 2007).
3 Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission; generated by Laurie Woods; using Homicide Database; (15 August 2007).
