Crime Reduction Research Program

Indigenous Youth Gang Involvement: Risk Factor Pathways and Adult Consequences (2023) (PDF, 1.2MB)
Evan McCuish, PhD
School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University

Looks at Indigenous youth gang involvement, including risk factors, social context and opportunities for prevention and support.

Assistance and Support Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking: A Qualitative Study (2023) (PDF, 607KB)
Yvonne Dandurand, Darryl Plecas, John Winterdyk, and Vivienne Chin
International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy

Looks at assistance and support for survivors of human trafficking, including service needs and justice-system responses.

Police Relationships with Visible Minorities: A Review of the Impact of the 20-year Effort by Police in B.C. to Improve Visible Minorities Assessments of Police Service (2022) (PDF, 517KB)
Yvon Dandurand, Paul Maxim, and Darryl Plecas
International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justic Policy

Examines police relationships with visible minorities and opportunities to improve trust, fairness and community safety.

Promising Practices Inventory and Analysis of Non-Criminal Justice Approaches to Hate Crime Reduction and Prevention (2024) (PDF, 492KB)
Dr. Garth Davies, Dr. Irwin M. Cohen, Dr. Stephanie Dawson, and Sara Negrin
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

Reviews best practices and policy initiatives aimed at reducing hate crime and supporting safer communities.

Cryptrust: The Role of Trust Between Buyer and Vendor on Dark Web Firearms and Drug Markets (2022) (PDF, 1.2MB)
Richard Frank, Noelle Warkentin, Yuxuan (Cicilia) Zhang, and Shu Qi Liu
International CyberCrime Research Centre (ICCRC), Simon Fraser University

Explores how trust is established between buyers and vendors in illicit dark web markets.

Working From the Outside In: Describing the Criminogenic Social Network of a Firearm Offender (2022) (PDF, 3.1MB)
Evan McCuish, PhD
School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University

Examines the social network of a firearm offender and how relationships may influence firearm-related offending.

Perceptions of Police Professionalisation in B.C.: Police Reform Study (2022) (PDF, 2.1MB)
Dr. Kelly W. Sundberg¹, Dr. Tanya E. Trusser¹, Dr. Julie Brooke¹, and Dr. Christina M. Witt²
1 Mount Royal University
2 Calgary Police Service

Examines perceptions of police professionalization in B.C. and how professional standards, training and public expectations shape policing.

Identifying Dangerous Offenders: An Evaluation of the High Risk Offender Identification Program (2021) (PDF, 1MB)
Evan McCuish, PhD
School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University

Looks at offending patterns among people identified through the High-Risk Offenders Identification Program.

Tribulations of the New Normal: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Intimate Partner Violence and Related Essential Services (2021) (PDF, 607KB)
Amanda Champion (MA), Hana Ryu (MA), April Miin Miin Chai (MA), Richard Frank (PhD), and Bomin Keum
School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University

Examines how COVID-19 affected intimate partner violence, including changes in risk, reporting and response.

The Social Architecture of Homicide in B.C. (2023) (PDF, 6.1MB)
Evan McCuish, PhD and Martin Bouchard, PhD
School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University

Examines homicide in B.C., including the social relationships, networks and factors connected to homicide offending.

Crime Prevention Through Sports: The Experience of B.C. (2021) (PDF, 1.7MB)
Yvon Dandurand and Jonathan Heidt (with the assistance of Satwinder Bains, Tyler Falk, and Chris Wiebe)
South Asian Studies Institute, University of the Fraser Valley

Explores how sports-based programs can support crime prevention, youth development and community safety.

Exploring Indigenous-led justice and Restorative Justice in B.C. and Saskatchewan: A Comparative Action Research Project (2021) (PDF, 390KB)

Dr. Alana Abramson¹, Dr. Muhammad Asadullah², Xilonen Hanson Pastran, Jori Fulks, and Michael Baumgartner
1 Kwantlen Polytechnic University
2 University of Regina

Explores Indigenous-led justice and restorative justice approaches in B.C. and Saskatchewan.

Identifying Trends and Police Responses to Elder Abuse in B.C. (2022) (PDF, 3.5MB)
Dr. Amanda V. McCormick, Dr. Irwin M. Cohen, Ivana Zdjelar, and Kia Neilsen
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

Identifies trends in elder abuse and police responses to support safety and accountability.

Rewriting the Narrative on Homelessness in Mid-Sized Canadian Cities (2021) (PDF, 297KB)
Erin Dej, PhD; Carrie Sanders, PhD; and Jessica Braimoh, PhD
Centre for Research on Security Practices, Wilfrid Laurier University

Explores homelessness, public narratives and opportunities to support more effective and compassionate responses.

Walking the Prevention Pathway: Violence Prevention in Indigenous Communities (2021) (PDF, 1.8MB)
Dr. Debra Pepler¹, Dawn-Lee Ricard¹, and Shelley Cardinal ²
1 York University
2 Canadian Red Cross

Explores culturally grounded approaches that support safer Indigenous communities through self-determined, relationship-based practices.

Media Portrayals and Public Perceptions of Homelessness: A Critical Discourse Analysis of B.C. News Media (2020) (PDF, 1.3MB)
Avery Hulbert, MA; Caley Ehnes, PhD; Rebecca Hansen; Dana Kessler; and Olivia Sheppard
College of the Rockies

Examines media portrayals of homelessness and how these portrayals shape public understanding, often tying the issue to criminality.

Special Victims (Sex Crimes) Investigations Complexity Study (2020) (PDF, 247KB)
Laura Huey and Colin Watson
University of Western Ontario

Looks at the complexity of special victims investigations and the challenges police may face due to digital technology and related workload.

Street Checks in RCMP Jurisdictions in B.C. (2019) (PDF, 247KB)
Dr. Irwin M. Cohen and Kevin Burk
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

Looks at street checks in RCMP jurisdictions in B.C. and their role in policing and public safety.

Investigating and Clearing Harassment Related Intimate Partner Violence Files (2022) (PDF, 736KB)
Dr. Amanda V. McCormick, Dr. Irwin M. Cohen, and Dr. Garth Davies
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

Examines police investigations and case clearance related to intimate partner violence.

An Examination of the Impact of Court Rulings on Police Investigation Time and Resources (2021) (PDF, 5.3MB)
Dr. Irwin M. Cohen, Dr. Garth Davies, Cristina Pastia, Dr. Amanda V. McCormick, Dr. Zina Lee, Dr. Erin Osterberg, Kevin Burk, and Amanda Schenk
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

Examines how court rulings affect future police investigations and resources.

Educating for Change: Honouring the Voices of Restorative Justice Participants in B.C. (2019) (PDF, 364KB)
Dr. Alana Abramson, Allison Giesbrecht, and Jenelle Palfreyman
Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Explores how individuals involved in serious crime experience restorative justice and how it can provide an improved response to the traditional justice system.

Understanding Drugs and Firearms on Dark Web Markets (2022)
Richard Frank, Shu Qi Liu, and Noelle Warkentin
International CyberCrime Research Centre (ICCRC), Simon Fraser University

An examination of cryptomarkets and their vendors, illicit drugs, and firearms to determine whether the cryptomarket ecosystem significantly contributes to global drug trafficking and to inform operational enforcement approaches.

The Impact of New Chapters on the Social Structure of the Hells Angels in B.C. (2022)
Dr. Martin Bouchard, Dr. Krysta Dawson, Alysha Girn, and Peter Vatic
Simon Fraser University

An analysis of the social network of the Hells Angels in British Columbia, including the network characteristics of the clubs and the network positions of the individual members who either left their current club to start new ones and the ones who remained with their original clubs.

​Gang and Nongang Vehicle Arsons: A Mixed-Methods Research Project (2021)
Dr. Nadine Deslauriers-Varin
Université Laval

This project provides law enforcement agencies with evidence-based intelligence regarding vehicle arsons by organized crime members for crime concealment purposes to inform operational approaches and to improve identification of offenders.

A Proof of Value Evaluation of IBM’s Watson Explorer Software with the CFSEU-BC (2020)
Dr. Irwin M. Cohen and Kevin Burk
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

A review of a software product piloted by CFSEU-BC. The purpose of this pilot project was to determine the utility of using IBM's Watson platform to assist CFSEU-BC in routinely including unstructured data into their criminal intelligence and business intelligence analysis.

A Review of CFSEU-BC’s End Gang Life Program (2019)
Dr. Irwin M. Cohen, Dr. Amanda V. McCormick, and Erin Osterberg
Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, University of the Fraser Valley

This project reviews the operations of the End Gang Life program to determine the degree to which the program is achieving its mandate, to assess the activities and initiatives undertaken by the program, and to provide recommendations to increase its efficiency and effectiveness. Alternate versions of this research are currently undergoing academic peer-review and will be shared on this website when available.