Saint Anselm College Criminal Justice professors Peter Cordella and John Humphrey '66 are taking a close look at gun violence in New Hampshire with the hope that their findings could lead to better prevention and intervention programs. Supported by a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, their research is part of the Bush administration's Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Working with the University of New Hampshire's Justiceworks, a consortium for the study of crime and its control, Cordella and Humphrey will collect data on incidents of fatal and non-fatal gun-related violence in the Granite State over a three-year period.

"We will look not only at homicides, but cases of suicide, accidental shootings, gun trafficking, and assaults, among other incidents," Humphrey explained. "We will research police cases and emergency room reports in an effort to collect as much information as possible on reported and unreported cases."

"Geomapping techniques" will help them locate "hot spots" of gun-related violence in New Hampshire. Such techniques permit a multi-level graphic depiction of gun-related violent events, including the timing of the violence, the socio-demographic characteristics of the offenders and their victims, and the circumstances that surrounded the offense.

"Geomapping will provide a foundation to create a social ecology profile of neighborhoods and communities that are distinguished by high levels of gun violence," Cordella explained.

"Our goal is to identify high risk populations-victims and offenders," said Humphrey. "In order to develop intervention and prevention strategies, you need to know with whom you're dealing."

Reports on their findings will be issued to U. S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. Copies will be made available to interested parties within New Hampshire and online.