BACKGROUND: Exposure to violence predisposes youths to future violent behavior.
Breaking the cycle of violence in inner cities is the primary objective of hospital-based
violence intervention and prevention programs. An evaluation was undertaken to determine
if a hospital-based, peer intervention program,“Caught in the Crossfire,” reduces the risk of
criminal justice involvement, decreases hospitalizations from traumatic reinjury, diminishes
death from intentional violent trauma, and is cost effective. STUDY DESIGN: We designed a …