Data-Driven Urban Violence Brief

Assignment 4: Data-Driven Urban Violence Brief Course: Gangs in America (Masters Program) Module: Module 4 Gang Trends, Urban Contexts & Violence Due Date: See Canvas Points: 100 Assignment Purpose The purpose of this assignment is to develop students ability to interpret national gang trend data and apply it to the analysis of urban gang violence. Students will critically assess data limitations, identify patterns, and propose evidence-based responses grounded in empirical findings and urban context. This assignment emphasizes data literacy, analytical reasoning, and policy relevance. Learning Outcomes Addressed This assignment assesses the following course student learning objectives: Interpret national gang trend data Analyze urban environmental factors associated with gang violence Evaluate the strengths and limitations of gang data sources Apply empirical findings to policy and practice Blooms Levels: Analyze, Evaluate, Apply Assignment Instructions Write a 4-page analytical brief (not including title or references) that addresses the components below. 1. Data Overview (Approx. 1 page) Summarize key findings from national gang trend data (e.g., National Youth Gang Survey, 19962012) as discussed in Howell & Griffiths (2019). Identify major trends related to: Gang prevalence Geographic concentration Youth involvement Violence patterns 2. Urban Context Analysis (Approx. 1112 pages) Analyze how urban structural conditions contribute to gang violence, including: Concentrated disadvantage Residential segregation Limited economic opportunity Policing practices Explain why gang violence is often spatially concentrated within specific neighborhoods. 3. Data Limitations and Critical Evaluation (Approx. 121 page) Critically assess limitations of national gang data, such as: Law enforcement reporting bias Definitional inconsistencies Underreporting or overreporting Discuss how data limitations can shape policy misinterpretations. 4. Evidence-Based Policy Response (Approx. 121 page) Propose one evidence-based strategy to reduce urban gang violence. Explain how your recommendation: Aligns with empirical findings Addresses structural conditions Avoids over-reliance on suppression Source Requirements Required: Howell & Griffiths (2019) Minimum: Two additional peer-reviewed scholarly sources Formatting Requirements Length: 4 pages Font: 12-point Times New Roman Spacing: Double-spaced Margins: 1 inch Citation Style: APA 7th edition File Type: Word (.docx) or PDF Academic Integrity & AI Use All analysis must be original. AI tools may be used for brainstorming or proofreading only. AI-generated substantive content is prohibited. Evaluation Criteria (Summary) Your brief will be evaluated based on: Accuracy and clarity of data interpretation Depth of urban violence analysis Critical assessment of data limitations Strength and feasibility of policy recommendations Writing quality and APA compliance A detailed grading rubric is available in Canvas. Submission Instructions Submit your assignment through Canvas Module 4 Assignment 4: Data-Driven Urban Violence Brief by the posted deadline. Helpful Tip Strong briefs clearly distinguish what the data shows, what it cannot show, and how policy should responsibly respond.