Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Cooper, Carnell
• Eslinger, Dawn M.
• Stolley, Paul D.

Titel

Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs Work

Ist Teil von

• The journal of trauma, 2006-09, Vol.61 (3), p.534-540

Ort / Verlag

United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2006

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• BACKGROUND:Hospital-based violence prevention programs have emerged at trauma centers nationwide; however, none has been thoroughly evaluated for effectiveness. Our Violence Intervention Program (VIP) conducted a prospective randomized control study to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention for repeat victims of violence. METHOD:Patients admitted between 1999 and 2001 for treatment of injuries inflicted by a violent act were identified. Repeat victims of violence on parole/probation were invited to join the study. Participants were given a history-gathering questionnaire and randomized into two groups. Cases (intervention [n = 56]) received intensive psychosocial follow-up services, family or group therapy, and assisted with substance abuse treatment. Controls (nonintervention [n = 44]) received standard medical treatment and follow-through in accordance with standard parole or probation procedures. RESULTS:There was no significant difference in the number of arrests in the two groups. The control group was three times more likely to be arrested for a violent crime, two times more likely to be convicted of any crime, and four times more likely to be convicted of a violent crime. The projected time of incarceration is significantly longer for the control group. Repeat violent criminal activity was significantly more evident in the control group. CONCLUSION:Significant differences exist between the VIP intervention and nonintervention groups in terms of the quantity and severity of criminal activity.