HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS:

The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) at the University of Chicago, Princeton University, and Innovations for Poverty Action are pleased to host this series focusing on violence and crime in Latin America and the Caribbean. This monthly series aims to shed light on novel innovative research on violence and crime in the LAC region and its policy implications.

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) will present the results of the Liberia experience, 10 years after the original intervention. Pablo Vazquez (Mexico City Ministry of Citizen Security) will comment on the policy implications of this research. A 10-minute Q&A will follow 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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