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 in 2006, the MHRC has:
- Reviewed over 150 homicides,
- Developed over 100 recommendations based on themes that emerge from case reviews and focus on initiating change at system, agency/organization, and individual levels, and
- Released 2007, 2008, and 2009 data reports.
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
- Emelia McAuliff, M.P.H., Assistant Researcher
Center for Urban Population Health
- Barbara Beck, Ph.D., Assistant Faculty Associate
- Ron Cisler, Ph.D., Academic Partner
Participating Community Service Agencies
Asha Family Services
Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Abuse Response Service
Bayview Neighborhood Association*
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*
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 County District Attorney’s Office, Community Prosecutors and Crisis Response Unit
Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services
Milwaukee Police Department, Community Liaison Officers
Southside Organizing Committee
Task Force on Family Violence, Inc.
Various Faith-Based Agencies
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Participating Criminal Justice Agencies
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program
Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office
Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office
Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office
Milwaukee Public Schools Public Safety Division
Office of the District One Chief Judge
US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
US Drug Enforcement Administration
US Federal Bureau of Investigation
US Immigration and Customs EnforcementUW-Milwaukee’s Criminal Justice Department
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation
Wisconsin Office of Justice AssistanceFor more information, contact:
Mallory O'Brien, Ph.D., Director
(414) 935-7985
mobrie@milwaukee.gov
*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).
