Caught in the Crossfire: What predicts program success among violently injured youth?

An evaluation of Caught in the Crossfire, a hospital-based peer intervention program for victims of interpersonal violence, was conducted to assess predictors of success among participants. The 6-month long program's purpose is to reduce criminal justice involvement, violent reinjury and retaliation, and to increase non-violent behaviors and attitudes. We conducted a retrospective medical and probation records review of 167 program participants, ages 12-20 years, who were hospitalized in Oakland and a prospective case study of 36 clients interviewed four times over a nine-month period.

Retrospective outcomes included violent injury re-hospitalization, criminal justice involvement and death. Prior criminal justice involvement and being African-American versus being Latino or “Other” race predicted negative retrospective outcomes. African-American participants were more likely to have prior arrests. Re-hospitalization rates 18 months post initial injury were 7.2%. Re-arrest rates were 36.1%. For the prospective study, findings show that Latino clients were more likely than African-American clients to have had a male figure in their lives, to have greater self-esteem, and lower tolerance of violence. There were significant increases in numbers working or working and attending school, feelings of safety, and a decrease in violent incidents after program participation. Clients who appear to succeed the most are those without prior arrests, and non-African-American adolescents. Intervening soon after youth are injured can reduce future violence and provide positive alternative outcomes. Tailoring the program to include incentives for meeting individual goals and working more closely with families to increase mutual respect may benefit high-risk clients, such as those with priors.