Bleeding Out

Urban violence is one of the most divisive and allegedly intractable issues of our time, but in Bleeding Out, Harvard scholar Thomas Abt shows that we actually possess all the tools necessary to stem violence in our cities. Combining the latest social science with firsthand experience as a crime-fighter, Abt demonstrates that we must focus on "hot people," the small groups of men who commit the majority of serious crimes, and on "hot spots," the blocks and corners where violence clusters. Arguing against hopelessness and fearmongering, Abt proposes a relentless focus on violence—not drugs, gangs, or guns. But the goal is not just to save lives. As Abt reveals, because violence acts as the linchpin of urban poverty, curbing such crime can unlock the untapped potential of our nation's most disadvantaged communities.

"Bleeding Out is a readable guide for newcomers and a corrective for academics, establishing that urban violence truly is our greatest criminal justice problem. Thomas Abt knows what matters: neither the get-tough rhetoric from the right nor the denial on the left really address what ails urban poor people as they struggle with violent crime." ―Jill Leovy, author of Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America

"From dangerous street corners to the corner offices of power, Thomas Abt focuses like a laser on the critical issues of crime and public safety. Policy makers, law enforcers, and community leaders should read his work if they're serious about making America safe—for all of us!" ―Michael A. Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia, 2008-2016

"Bleeding Out is an illuminating and engaging book. Building on evidence involving anti-violence evaluations and dozens of face-to-face interviews, Thomas Abt's new paradigm for understanding and combatting urban violence is persuasive. This is required reading for all concerned citizens and policymakers." ―William Julius Wilson