Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help prevent violence. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Convening stakeholders to address violence: The Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission (MHRC) is an initiative led by the Medical College of Wisconsin that convened law enforcement and civic leaders to identify underlying causes of violence and develop solutions to address those root causes.
Ensuring broad participation: MHRC brings together leaders from local organizations focused on violence prevention. These include representatives from law enforcement agencies, the justice system, advocacy groups, public health departments, faith-based organizations, and more.
Reviewing instances of violence: During monthly convenings, MHRC staff members, with support from the Milwaukee Police Department’s Homicide Unit, prepare and present data and analysis on recent homicides and significant cases of gun violence. Participants use information from each case to develop concrete steps that participating agencies could take to prevent future violence.
Developing and committing to solutions: MHRC consists of a working group and an executive committee. The working group is composed of mid-level staffers from participating organizations, and is responsible for analyzing and developing recommendations to reduce violence. The executive committee includes high-level leaders from participating organizations, and focuses on reviewing and committing to the working group’s recommendations.
Sharing data to inform recommendations: Prior to MHRC, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders did not systematically share information on violence crime in Milwaukee. By collecting and sharing data from all stakeholders, MHRC gives each participating organization a clearer picture of homicides and gun violence in the area. This allows the working group to develop recommendations based on robust data analysis, which in turn enables executive committee members to more effectively advocate for changes within their respective organizations.
- Strategies
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Evidence-based policing
- Cost per Participant
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Not available
A single study with a rigorous design provides some evidence for the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission as a strategy for reducing homicides.
- A 2012 quasi-experimental study found that MHRC interventions were associated with a 52 percent decrease in homicides in treatment districts, compared to a 9.2 percent decrease in control districts.
Note: This content is under review.
Building stakeholder buy-in: By participating in the MHRC, organizations are dedicating staff and leadership time to attend meetings, share data, and identify and implement violence reduction strategies. To secure this commitment, MHRC leveraged support from influential stakeholders, like the Milwaukee Police Department and the county’s District Attorney’s Office, and offered participating organizations a role in all steps of the MHRC process.
Using data to justify recommendations: Almost every partner in MHRC proactively collects and shares data to help inform the group’s understanding of the challenges and potential solutions to violent crime in Milwaukee. By proposing solutions grounded in robust data analysis and strong evidence, MHRC enables agency leaders to better advocate for policy and process changes within their organizations.
Staff to support the analysis of cases: At each convening, MHRC staff present data and analysis about recent homicides and instances of gun violence. To support this approach, organizations following the MHRC model need to hire staff capable of collecting, managing, and analyzing data; presenting key findings; and supporting participating agencies in developing potential solutions.
Identify an effective facilitator: MHRC brought together stakeholders that often had relatively little experience working together and, at times, may have competed (e.g., law enforcement agencies with overlapping jurisdictions) or had an adversarial relationship (e.g., government agencies and advocacy groups). As such, identifying a facilitator capable of building credibility with all stakeholders is key to holding effective monthly convenings.