Research

EVALUATIONS

In response to an August 2018 solicitation from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services (TNDMHSAS), in partnership with the Tennessee Association of Recovery Court Professionals
(TARCP), the Shelby County Mental Health Court (MHC) partnered with the University of Memphis Public Safety
Institute (PSI) to develop an evaluation proposal. The proposal was funded and the project began Oct. 1, 2018.
Although the project period was initially to be 12 months, we requested and received a six-month extension
due to difficulty in obtaining some of the necessary data. Just before the final report was due, the COVID-19
pandemic hit the United States and we were forced to request another extension. This report provides details of
the quantitative and qualitative methods used in the evaluation, analysis and results, as well as some conclusions
and recommendations. Full Evaluation

BRIEFS

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Domestic Violence Survivors' Experiences with Memphis and Shelby County Resources
It is generally accepted within criminology that victims who are dissatisfied with their experiences with the
criminal justice system will be less likely to participate if they are victimized again. Family justice centers (FJCs)
provide survivors of domestic violence and their families with social services and support related to temporary
and long-term housing, protection orders, custody of minor children and assistance with other legal proceedings.
If survivors are satisfied with their experiences at an FJC, revictimization may be less likely and programs may
be considered successful. As a measure of program success, then, it is important to gauge survivor satisfaction
with services. As part of a state-funded evaluation, focus groups were conducted with survivors of domestic
violence, including survivors serviced by the local FJC. This brief provides preliminary findings from the first series
of focus groups and identifies common themes of survivor satisfaction, as well as areas for improvement for law
enforcement, service agencies and the court system. Read the Brief

ASSESSMENTS

Fed-Up Media Campaign Analysis Spring 2020
In 2016, the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission spearheaded development of a five-year community-wide Safe Community Plan (the third such plan). In an agreement between the Crime Commission and the University, the PSI is charged with assessing and evaluating various parts of the plan as they are implemented, both in terms of processes and outcomes. Full Assessment

Assessment of Neighborhood Safety Initiative in Designated Geographic Areas of Memphis
This interim assessment/report looks at the different components of the NSI, the processes involved and some of the outcomes. It contains both conclusions and recommendations going forward. Download the Assessment

Interim Assessment of Gang Injunctions and Safety Zones in Memphis
This research interim assessment is designed to look at the effectiveness of safety zone injunctions. This assessment seeks to address three research questions: (1) Do injunctions reduce the number of violent offenses in the safety zone areas?, (2) Do gang injunctions reduce arrests of individuals subject to the injunctions? and (3) Do police officers working in precincts with safety zones know about the injunctions and prohibited behaviors? Read the full PDF 

Data-Driven Deployment by the Memphis Police Department
This assessment deals with a key objective of the Operation: Safe Community five-year plan — data-driven deployment of law enforcement resources, in this case by the Memphis Police Department. Download PDF of the Assessment

REPORTS

Homicide, Domestic Violence, Youth & Guns in Memphis
This presentation results from various research conducted at the request of various agencies and for program development and implementation. Download: PowerPoint | PDF

MORE ON MEMPHIS HOMICIDES

At the request of various public agencies, Drs. James McCutcheon, Bert Burraston, Amaia Ratzoqui, and Angela Madden of the University of Memphis Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice have been leaders in conducting research on homicides in Memphis. ( Dr. Madden serves as Research Associate Professor for the Public Safety Institute.) Their research provides insight into certain "predictors" of neighborhood homicides, including the impact of geographic location, a history of domestic violence, residential mobility, educational level, and age. CLICK HERE for more detailed results of their research.