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When it comes to combating crime and homicide in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) —home to 41 of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world—policymakers have few tested tools at their disposal. Although evidence is scarce, recent efforts to produce rigorous research is helping to broaden our understanding of what works in reducing violence and crime in the region.

As policymakers look for non-police responses to crime and violence, interventions informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are becoming increasingly popular. These interventions seek to address the violence that springs from poor decision-making and distorted thinking by helping people learn how to think and react differently. Some questions still remain about the long-term effects of these interventions and there is still little evidence of their effectiveness outside the US. However, a  program in Liberia has shown to be effective in preventing antisocial behaviors in high-risk young men using CBT-informed therapy and training.

In this webinar, Chris Blattman (University of Chicago) presented the results of of his research in Liberia, 10 years after the original intervention. Pablo Vazquez (Mexico City Ministry of Citizen Security) commented on the policy implications of this research. A 10-minute Q&A followed the presentation.

This series is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Each seminar will be presented in English with Spanish simultaneous translation.

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