From suspicion and mistrust to finding common ground.
YPI uses the restorative justice principles of building relationships and discussing the cause and effect of choices made, allowing space for discussion and reflection. There have been numerous research studies demonstrating YPI’s efficacy in reducing negative youth/police interactions, and in reducing juvenile crime.
Youth Outcomes
- 240% shift from neutral to strongly agree in response to:
“I know at least an officer I can trust.” - 200% shift from disagree to agree in response to:
“The police really care about what is good for the neighborhood.” - 110% rating increase in response to:
“Police officers are honest.”
Police Outcomes
- 140% shift from neutral to strongly agree in response to:
“I feel confident when communicating with teenagers.” - 87% shift from agree to disagree in response to:
“Talking with teenagers in the neighborhood I patrol and getting them to share information is very difficult.” - 75% rating decrease in response to:
“Teens in the neighborhood I patrol are very different than I was at the same age.”
Source: The Case for Youth Police Initiative: Interdependent Fates and the Power of Peace (Innovations in Policing) by Dr. Nina Rose Fischer