Age range

Website: www.philasafesound.org

Mission/Goals: To reduce youth violence in Philadelphia's most lawless neighborhoods through monitoring and support of high-risk youth.

Sources: www.ppv.org/ppv/youth/youth_

major_projects.asp?section_id=9&

initiative_id=17

Notes: YVRP is a partnership between Philadelphia Safe and Sound (PSS), P/PV, police and parole departments, juvenile courts, and the Philadelphia Anti Drug/Anti-Violence Network (PAAN). PSS is in charge of executive duties such as ensuring interagency cooperation. P/PV has begun a quasi-experimental study with the YVRP youth and comparison youth from a different police district. YVRP began in the 24th police district in 1999, and was then expanded to the 25th police district in 2000 and the 12th police district in 2002.

Type of Evaluation: Outcomes Monitoring.

Objective: To describe YVRP and any early evidence its influence on youth crime and violence.

Impact/Outcome Findings: In a ten-year analysis, the homicide rates in the 24th and 25th Police Districts were significantly lower after the start of YVRP, and homicide rate reduction was greater in those districts than in the city as a whole. Seventy-five percent of participants were involved in some type of positive support (such as employment or education at a non-compulsory age) for three consecutive months, and 72% were involved in a positive support for six consecutive months.