Citation

Gutiérrez Martínez MI, Villin RE, Fandiño A, Oliver RL. Int. J. Inj. Control Safe. Promot. 2007; 14(2): 77-84.

Affiliation

Institute for Peace Promotion and Injury/Violence Prevention (CISALVA), Universidad del Valle, sede San Fernando. Cali. Colombia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17457300701234425

PMID

17510843

Abstract

Since 2002, the Institute for Peace Promotion and Injury/Violence Prevention (CISALVA) at the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia and the Colombia Program at Georgetown University have developed and implemented 21 epidemiologically based municipal crime observatories in intermediate-sized municipalities in Colombia. These crime observatories serve as monitoring centres that provide low cost, geo-referenced methods of data collection and analysis, which allow cities to develop more responsive policies and prevention programmes and enhance governance. This article focuses on the methodology employed and lessons learned that may be applicable to similar settings. Worth noting within the results was a significant decrease in homicides after the first year of the programme. Whether or not such results could be attributed to the method or to the nature of the interventions and policy initiatives stemming from it remains open to conjecture.

Language: en