A Mixed Method Approach to Studying The Relationship Between Business Improvement Districts and Youth Violence

The present study evaluates an intervention--the business improvement district (BID)--that specifically aims at modifying community-level processes linked to youth violence. To assess whether BIDs are associated with a reduced prevalence of youth violence census tract neighborhoods in Los Angeles that contain BIDs were matched via a multistage sampling algorithm to neighborhoods without BIDs, but with similar social and economic characteristics. Observational data were collected from interviews with 737 households in these BID and non-BID neighborhoods to assess perceptions of neighborhood environments, household characteristics, and the prevalence of youth violence. Systematic social observations of BID neighborhoods were conducted for a third-party assessment of the level of physical and social disorder in each neighborhood. Household interviews and neighborhood observations were integrated into a multilevel model to assess whether BIDs are associated with a reduced prevalence of youth violence, controlling for relevant household and neighborhood features. We discuss the findings within the context of community-level youth violence prevention policies.