Impact Evaluation 4 Peace24-27 March 2014, Lisbon, Portugal

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Does Nothing Stop a Bullet Like a Job?

Sara Heller hellersa@sas.upenn.edu

University of Pennsylvania &University of Chicago Crime Lab

Made possible by generous support from the U.S. Department of Labor & U.S. Department of Justice (OJJDP)

Latin America and the Caribbean’s Citizen SecurityTeam

Sara Heller hellersa@sas.upenn.edu

University of Pennsylvania &University of Chicago Crime Lab

Made possible by generous support from the U.S. Department of Labor & U.S. Department of Justice (OJJDP)

Does Nothing Stop a Bullet Like a Job?

≠

??

Evidence?

Intensive Employment Programs

Crime goes

or or ✕

Chicago’s Approach

Part-time Summer Job + Mentor

Will It Work??

NOBODY KNOWS

Arrests for violent crime

After 9 months

3.5

7.2 per 100

youth

Control Treatment

- 51%

What’s Next?

• Still to come– Employment outcomes,

longer follow-up•More to learn – For whom? In what context?

Summer jobs can reduce violence - In 8 weeks! More not always better

- Adolescence is not too late