AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Hot Spot Policing Field Experiment in St. Louis, 2012 - 2014

These data are part of NACJDs Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
The two central objectives of this project were (1) to evaluate the effect on crime of a targeted patrol strategy mounted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) and (2) to evaluate the researcher-practitioner partnership that underlay the policing intervention.
The study addressed the following research questions:

Do intensified police patrols and enforcement in crime hot spots result in larger reductions in firearm assaults and robberies than in similar areas subject to routine police activity?
Do specific enforcement tactics decrease certain type of crime?
Which enforcement tactics are most effective?
Does video surveillance reduce crime?
How does the criminal justice system respond to firearm crime?
Do notification meetings reduce recidivism?
Does community unrest increase crime?
Did crime rates rise following the Ferguson Killing?

To answer these questions, researchers used a mixed methods data collection plan, including interviews with local law enforcement, surveillance camera footage, and conducting ride-alongs with officers.
Moving to Collective Efficacy:  How Inner-City Mobility Impacts Minority and Immigrant Youth Victimization and Violence, Chicago, Illinois, 1994-2002

Despite much recent attention devoted to understanding the ramifications of residential mobility, especially negative consequences for youth, there is scant research exploring how inner-city mobility impacts youth violence and victimization among minorities and immigrants. Leaving the city imparts benefits: decreasing deviance and improving youth outcomes. Considering that many are unable to "escape" the city, clarifying what effects, if any, inner-city mobility has is critical. Destination neighborhoods for youth who move in the city are either contextually the same, better, or worse than their original neighborhood. Evidence suggests that immigrant families are more likely to move as are racial minorities. Because of this, the researchers examined the extent to which moving within a city affects minority and immigrant youth experiences, particularly in relation to changes in neighborhood collective efficacy; a major characteristic shaping community crime rates and youth violence.
This project involved four main goals:

identify key characteristics of the destination neighborhoods and those who are moving within the city of Chicago;
understand how inner-city mobility of minority and immigrant youth affects engagement in violence and victimization;
determine whether vertical or horizontal mobility with respect to key neighborhood factors differentially influences minority and immigrant youth outcomes;
assess who fares better - youth who vertically move (to better or worse neighborhoods), those who do not move, or those who horizontally move (to equivalent neighborhoods).
This research used data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN). Data were drawn from both the Longitudinal Cohort Study (N=1,611) and Community Survey (N=97). The rich data from the Community Survey affords the opportunity to examine how community
characteristics like collective efficacy, disorder, and indicators of social
disorganization can impact a variety of youth behaviors among at-risk youth
over time between Wave 1 and Wave 2 and Wave 2 and Wave 3. The Longitudinal
Cohort Study provides data on youth characteristics and experiences with
violence, and ecological information on family and peer relationships. The investigators focused primarily on three of the seven youth cohorts from the Longitudinal Cohort Study: 9, 12, and 15. The ages of these youth during the study period place them at increased risk for exposure to community violence, and place them in range for aging into, peaking, or aging out of crime and delinquency.
The Longitudinal Cohort Study respondents are nested in neighborhood clusters and multilevel models are employed to assess the outcomes victimization and violence within neighborhood context. The researchers employed a series of hierarchical generalized linear models using HLM 7 in addition to running several analyses of variance (ANOVA) permitting examinations between groups of interest.
Firearm Involvement in Delinquent Youth and Collateral Consequences in Young Adulthood: A Prospective Longitudinal Study, Chicago, Illinois, 1995-1998

This study contains data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project (NJP) series, a prospective longitudinal study of the mental health needs and outcomes of youth in detention. 
This study examined the following goals:  (1) firearm involvement (access, ownership, and use) during adolescence and young adulthood; (2) perpetration of firearm violence over time; and (3) patterns of firearm victimization (injury and mortality) over time.  This study addressed the association between early involvement with firearms and firearm-firearm perpetration and victimization in adulthood.
The original sample included 1,829 randomly selected youth, 1,172 males and 657 females, then 10 to 18 years old, enrolled in the study as they entered the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center from 1995 to 1998. Among the sample were 1,005 African Americans, 524 Hispanics, and 296 non-Hispanic white respondents. Participants were tracked from the time they left detention. Re-interviews were conducted regardless of where respondents were living when their follow-up interview was due: in the community, correctional settings, or by telephone if they lived farther than two hours from Chicago.
Understanding School Safety and the Use of School Resource Officers in Understudied Settings: Survey Data, Southern United States, 2017

The Understanding School Safety and the Use of School Resource Officers in Understudied Settings project investigated school resource officers (SROs) within settings that have received almost no attention in the empirical literature: elementary schools and affluent, high performing school districts. This project was guided by four research questions: 1) Why and through what process were SROs implemented? 2) What roles and activities do SROs engage in within schools? 3) What impacts do SROs have on schools and students? 4) How do the roles and impacts of SROs differ across school contexts? Survey data come from the districts' SROs, and a sample of teachers, school leaders, students, and parents. Survey data was collected between spring of 2017 and fall of 2017.
A Comparative Study of Violent Extremism and Gangs, United States, 1948-2018 

The study assesses the extent of commonalities between individuals who become involved in violent extremist groups and criminal gangs, and the processes by which individuals engage in each group. Following this comparison, the extent to which the empirical results support the potential for anti-gang programs to bolster the resilience of communities against violent extremism and other forms of crime is assessed.
Quantitative assessment was conducted by comparing individuals included in the Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) dataset with a subset of individuals drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) along a number of demographic, social, and socioeconomic characteristics.
Supplementary survey data was also collected from 45 former and current gang members in the United States concurrently with long-form interviews, covering a range of variables including background characteristics, demographic information, and attitudes among the respondents.
Evaluating the Law Enforcement, Prosecutor, and Court Response to Firearm-related Crimes in St. Louis, 2015-2018

This study examines the entire range of case-processing decisions after arrest, from charging to sentencing of firearm-related crimes. This study analyzes the cumulative effects of each decision point, after a charge has been issued, on the subsequent decisions of criminal justice officials. It examines criminal justice decisions regarding a serious category of crime, gun-related offenses. These offenses, most of which are felonious firearm possession or firearm use cases, vary substantially with respect to bail, pretrial detention, and sentencing outcomes (Williams and Rosenfeld, 2016). The focus of this study is St. Louis, where firearm violence is a critical public problem and where neighborhoods range widely in both stability and level of disadvantage. These communities are characterized on the basis of a large number of demographic and socioeconomic indicators. The study aims to enhance understanding of the community context of the criminal justice processing of firearm-related crimes.
Understanding Pathways To and Away From Violent Radicalization Among Resettled Somali Refugees, 4 North American cities, 2013-2015

Somalis in North America offer a window into the remarkable potential that can be realized by refugees/immigrants despite experiences of severe adversity as well as the challenges some subgroups encounter when adjusting to life in a new country. Somalia has endured one of the longest and most brutal wars of the past 30 years. This enduring conflict has led to millions of Somalis being dispersed as refugees across the globe. As refugees with limited resources, many Somalis in North America are resettled in poor urban neighborhoods where they are visibly different, not only because of race or ethnicity but also because of dress, especially for women who wear a Muslim head covering.
In addition, the community has been plagued by violence. While the number of Somali American youth joining these groups are small and while the majority of Somali Americans are law-abiding citizens, the terrorist groups' ability to recruit these youth and to convince some of them to engage in violent acts is concerning, not only to policymakers and law enforcement, but also to the Somali community, which fears losing more youth to violence or having the community's reputation sullied by being associated with terrorism.
While some of the social and cultural factors affecting Somalis are unique to that ethnic group, they also share experiences common to many immigrants, navigating identity development and duality as they move between home and host cultures, contending with discrimination as religious, racial and ethnic minorities, and striving to achieve their dreams while struggling to gain socioeconomic stability. Thus, understanding their developmental trajectories may inform the understanding of other immigrant and refugee groups as well.
 No valid and reliable measurement for risk for violent extremism exists; there is no single profile or set of risk factors that can accurately determine who is most at risk for engaging in violent extremist acts. The study did not attempt to determine who is most at risk. Rather, the researchers sought to identify broad attitudes that would indicate a general openness to, or rejection of, the use of violence or illegal actions in support of a political cause. 
 The qualitative interviews feature experiences of formal (e.g. police) and informal (e.g. community) institutions over the past year. Examples of interview prompts include questions related to social bonds with family and community, and interactions with police.
Prosecuting Trafficking in Persons Cases: An Analysis of Local Strategies and Approaches, United States, 2009-2018

This project
examined practices and initiatives undertaken by prosecutors across the United
States to address trafficking in persons (TIP) in order to learn about TIP case
identification and case building; when jurisdictions prosecute utilizing their
state's TIP statute or alternative charges; and how prosecutors approach victim
identification, serving victims, and increasing convictions and penalties for
traffickers and buyers. It also sought to draw lessons learned that other
jurisdictions can use to begin this work or increase their capacity and
effectiveness, regardless of size or location. This project was a partnership
between the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) and the National
District Attorney's Association (NDAA) and consisted of two phases. Phase I was
a national survey of prosecutors and Phase II was a series of four case studies
in jurisdictions undertaking anti-TIP initiatives.
The results of the
survey are intended to provide a national snapshot of trends in local TIP
prosecutions and the use of state-level TIP statutes by local prosecutors. It
serves as a ten-year update to, and expansion of, previous research on local prosecutorial
approaches to trafficking that had used data on cases prosecuted through 2008.
Using Gatekeeper Training as a CVE Tool: Replication and Evaluation of a Gatekeeper Program in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, 2019

This study evaluated Global Citizen's Forum (GCF), an afterschool youth program designed as a peer gatekeeping program in the area of violent extremism. GCF was implemented in two private high schools in Maryland during spring of 2019. Although the study was designed as a quasi-experimental research with pre/post testing of treatment and control groups, implementation challenges resulted in design problems and a small sample, allowing only for exploratory study. The preliminary results suggest that GCF is associated with some statistically significant gains in participants' knowledge and attitude. The study also presents team's qualitative findings as well as GCF replication framework and financial cost analysis. An assessment of the GCF implementation experience and related observations indicates that GCF may be difficult to replicate due to community sensitivities about accepting the violent extremism threat and the ability of service providers to teach the GCF curriculum. For conclusive and reliable results, this study needs to be replicated with participation of a larger sample.
Comprehensive Gang Model Evaluation: Integrating Research Into Practice, Massachusetts, 2014-2018

The effects of a deliberate strategy to bolster organizational change in order to achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Gang Model (CGM) were tested in this study. The CGM goals of increasing community capacity to address gang and youth violence and reducing gang and youth violence were examined. A quasi-experimental design was used wherein two Massachusetts cities received a relational coordination intervention to boost organizational change and two similar Massachusetts cities were used as comparisons. Surveys, observational notes, and crime data assessed outcomes of interest. The intervention was carried out from March 2016 through August 2017. Survey and observational data were gathered during that time. Crime data from January 2014 through December 2018 was utilized to examine outcomes.
Research on Offender Decision-Making and Desistance From Crime: A Multi-Theory Assessment of Offender Cognition Change, United States, 2015-2019

This study is largely exploratory and observational, with the main goals to understand (a) how cognitions change across time, (b) which cognitions are related to each other, and (c) which cognition measures are related to recidivism. Employing a two-phase program of research, this study sought to answer several research questions about the relationship between cognitions and desistance from crime:

What cognitions do probationers self-identify as key beliefs that motivate their desire to desist from crime?
What are the psychometric properties of newly developed standardized measures designed to assess desistance cognitions?
Do probationers differ in their crime and desistance cognitions and, on average, do these cognitions change across time? 
How are crime and desistance cognitions related to official-record assessment and outcome data? Specifically, are there associations between self-reported cognitions and risk and strength factors rated by supervision officers?
Do crime and desistance cognitions predict future revocations and arrests as hypothesized by rational choice, correctional psychology, and / or desistance theories?

Variables include offender's self-report of their personal perception on the costs and benefits of crime, costs and benefits of attempting to stay crime-free, attitudes, impulsive traits, and emotions. A demographic variable is available: participant gender.
Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories From Early to Late Adolescence in the Midwestern United States, 2007-2013.


These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they there received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except of the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompany readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collections and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.

This study tested a model of individual, familial, and peer variables that additively and synergistically increased or decreased the risk for sexual and teen dating violence based on bullying experiences in early adolescence. The study surveyed 1,162 students from three cohorts in four Midwestern middle schools, who were then followed into three high schools. Five waves of surveys collected information about the level of violence in student homes with parents and siblings or with other children, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, frequency of bullying, self-reported delinquency, and exposure to delinquent friends during the middle school years. Waves six and seven were collected during high school and sexual violence and teen dating violence measures were added to the surveys.
Juvenile Court Statistics Series


Investigator(s): National Center for Juvenile Justice
These data collections describe in quantitative terms the 
volume of juvenile cases disposed by courts having jurisdiction over juvenile 
matters (delinquency, status offense, and dependency cases). Inaugurated in 
1926 to furnish an index of the problems brought before the juvenile courts, 
this series is the oldest continuous source of information on the processing 
of delinquent and dependent youth by juvenile courts. It is the most detailed 
information available on youth who come in contact with the juvenile justice 
system and on the activities of the nation's juvenile courts. Information is 
provided on state, county, number of delinquency cases, number of status 
offense cases, number of dependency cases, and total number of cases. The 
data distinguish cases with and without the filing of a 
petition.Years Produced: Annually.
A Natural Experiment in Reform: Analyzing Drug Law Policy in New York City, New York, Quantitative Data, 2006-2012

On January 1, 2011, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) launched "A Natural Experiment in Reform: Analyzing Drug Law Policy in New York," which was funded by the National Institute of Justice, and conducted by Vera, with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York, and the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. This study sought to analyze the effects of recent changes in drug offense sentencing laws in New York State (NYS) and chronicle New York City's experience with drug law reform (DLR). This includes changes in sentencing outcomes for felony drug cases, reoffending, and cost implications, with the hope of informing NYS policy makers, and provide other states across the nation with research to inform their own DLR efforts.
Specifically, this study revolves around the following objectives: 1) describe how the DLR is reflected in actual sentencing outcomes and the extent to which practices of judges, lawyers, and defense attorneys have shifted in response to the reforms; 2) investigate how treatment diversion impacts reoffending and 3) analyze the cost implications of changing drug law sentencing policies. Researchers analyzed administrative data to describe the impacts of reforms on sentencing decisions, collected New York City arrest data for drug felonies between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011, and evaluated outcome data measuring recidivism and costs between pre and post DLR periods.
Numerous variables tracking offenders' progress through the criminal justice system were collected including admission to the Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison (DTAP) program, arrest and disposition jurisdictions, charges, sentencing, and drug court screening and admission. Arrestees' criminal history and rearrest figures, as well as their sex, race, and ethnic demographics were collected also.
Delivery and Evaluation of the 2012 International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) National Blended Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) Training [UNITED STATES]


These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.


The project sought to address the shortage of sexual assault forensic examiners (SAFE) by delivering and evaluating a comprehensive SAFE training program developed by the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN).  To assess if the training was effective, researchers conducted an outcome evaluation using a mixed methods approach, including quantitative pre-post training and qualitative interviews with instructors and students. The evaluation had three main components: 1) to assess training completion, including the percentage of students who completed the training and the factors that contributed to their completion; 2) to ascertain whether students attained knowledge through pre-test/post-tests and the factors that contributed to knowledge attainment; and 3) to determine whether students retained their knowledge using a post-training exam approximately three months following the training, and whether the students incorporated the core concepts of the training into their SAFE practice.


The researchers divided the project into 3 studies.
Study 1 examined how many students completed the training and what predicted training completion.
Study 2a utilized a one-group pre-test post-test design where researchers assessed students' knowledge attainment for 12 online modules.
Study 2b utilized a qualitative framework to understand the instructors' pedagogical approach to teaching clinical skills.  In addition, researchers conducted qualitative interviews to examine the students' perceptions of the patient care and medical forensic exam skills gained from the clinical component in the SAFE training, and how the clinical training contributed to their skill development.
Study 3a explored knowledge retention using an online post-training survey given to students three months following the training.
Study 3b utilized the same qualitative framework as Study 2b.
Only data for studies 1, 2a, and 3a are available with this collection.
The data file has 198 cases and 675 variables.  The qualitative interviews for Studies 2b and 3b are not available as part of this data collection at this time.