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Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cook, PJ; Braga, AA; Turchan, BS; Barao, LM
Published in: Criminology and Public Policy
January 1, 2019

Research Summary: The prevailing view is that follow-up investigations are of limited value as crimes are primarily cleared by patrol officers making on-scene arrests and through the presence of eyewitnesses and forensic evidence at the initial crime scene. We use a quasi-experimental design to compare investigative resources invested in clearing gun homicide cases relative to nonfatal gun assaults in Boston. We find the large gap in clearances (43% for gun murders vs. 19% for nonfatal gun assaults) is primarily a result of sustained investigative effort in homicide cases made after the first 2 days. Policy Implications: Police departments should invest additional resources in the investigation of nonfatal gun assaults. When additional investigative effort is expended, law enforcement improves its success in gaining the cooperation of key witnesses and increases the amount of forensic evidence collected and analyzed. In turn, the capacity of the police to hold violent gun offenders accountable, deliver justice to victims, and prevent future gun attacks is enhanced.

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Published In

Criminology and Public Policy

DOI

EISSN

1745-9133

ISSN

1538-6473

Publication Date

January 1, 2019

Volume

18

Issue

3

Start / End Page

525 / 551

Related Subject Headings

  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 4402 Criminology
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 1602 Criminology
 

Citation

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Cook, P. J., Braga, A. A., Turchan, B. S., & Barao, L. M. (2019). Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults? Criminology and Public Policy, 18(3), 525–551. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12451
Cook, P. J., A. A. Braga, B. S. Turchan, and L. M. Barao. “Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults?Criminology and Public Policy 18, no. 3 (January 1, 2019): 525–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12451.
Cook PJ, Braga AA, Turchan BS, Barao LM. Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults? Criminology and Public Policy. 2019 Jan 1;18(3):525–51.
Cook, P. J., et al. “Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults?Criminology and Public Policy, vol. 18, no. 3, Jan. 2019, pp. 525–51. Scopus, doi:10.1111/1745-9133.12451.
Cook PJ, Braga AA, Turchan BS, Barao LM. Why do gun murders have a higher clearance rate than gunshot assaults? Criminology and Public Policy. 2019 Jan 1;18(3):525–551.
Journal cover image

Published In

Criminology and Public Policy

DOI

EISSN

1745-9133

ISSN

1538-6473

Publication Date

January 1, 2019

Volume

18

Issue

3

Start / End Page

525 / 551

Related Subject Headings

  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 4402 Criminology
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 1602 Criminology