Focused deterrence strategies
- Issue Areas
- Justice and public safety
- Outcomes
- Supportive neighborhoods
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help prevent violence. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Concentrating incentives and enforcement to reduce violent crime: Focused deterrence (previously known as Operation Ceasefire) is a policing strategy that aims to reduce incidence of specific, recurring crimes, like drug dealing or gun violence, by targeting a small number of gang-involved offenders in a given area. Law enforcement agencies execute the strategy by presenting individuals at high risk of engaging in crime with a series of incentives (e.g., access to employment training) and deterrents (e.g., prioritizing outstanding warrants for that individual or group).
Convening an interagency working group: Before implementing a focused deterrence strategy, the initiating organization (generally a police department) convenes an interagency working group. This group typically includes representatives from law enforcement agencies, social service organizations, prosecutors, community organizations, and more. The working group develops clear, legally-defensible criteria for identifying individuals at risk of committing the targeted crime and solidifies the set of incentives and deterrents that will be used in the intervention.
Communicating directly with offenders: When rolling out a focused deterrence strategy, law enforcement agencies typically hold an intervention meeting, also known as “forums” or “call ins”. This meeting includes the individuals at high risk of engaging in the targeted crime, along with representatives from law enforcement and social services agencies, key community leaders, and others. During the meeting, facilitators inform high-risk individuals of the plan to step up enforcement and the personal consequences of engaging in the targeted crime. The meeting is also an opportunity to offer specially-tailored services and incentives that are available if they wish to change their behavior.
Providing incentives and support services: After holding an intervention meeting, the interagency working group continues to offer at-risk individuals a range of social services. These services are meant to incentivize and give individuals the means to discontinue further criminal behavior and leave gangs. Common services include counseling, case management, substance use treatment, employment training, and more. Many cities engage at-risk individuals through street outreach programs that include former gang members or social workers to better connect with young people involved in gangs.
Enhancing enforcement as a deterrent: Under the focused deterrence model, individuals who continue to engage in the targeted criminal behavior are subject to enhanced enforcement. Examples of enhanced enforcement include prioritizing prosecutions, evidence collection, or the servicing of outstanding warrants against offenders.
- Strategies
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Evidence-based policing
- Cost per Participant
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Not available
Multiple studies with rigorous designs demonstrate that focused deterrence is a well-supported strategy for reducing crime.
- This assessment is based on evidence from a 2017 research synthesis.
- A Meta analysis of focused deterrence strategies across the United States found that 90% led to a statistically significant reduction in crimes.
- An evaluation of the Ceasefire program in Stockton, CA found that violent gun victimization rates declined by 40% and recidivism rates decreased by 25% for gang members engaged by the program.
Coordinate agency resources: While a focused deterrence strategy is led by an interagency working group, it requires support from a range of other actors. These include research and evaluation staff, crime analysis and intelligence experts, communications staff, and more. Working groups should formally outline which organizations will provide these resources at the start of their focused deterrence effort. This type of collaboration is needed to keep track of targeted individuals across different jurisdictions and to coordinate building a strong legal case.
Develop a process for identifying those at-risk: When identifying individuals to target with a focused deterrence intervention, officials must consider civil rights protections. Working groups can accommodate these protections by developing a consistent process that uses clear and defensible criteria to identify individuals who may engage in the targeted criminal behavior. With these guardrails in place, working groups should conduct an audit of community leaders and area law enforcement to identify individuals seen as driving criminal behavior in the area.
Leverage community support: Working groups should identify individuals and community-based organizations that may be effective in convincing at-risk individuals to stop future criminal behavior (e.g., relatives of crime victims or individuals with lived experience of gang involvement or violence). These trusted messengers should be included in the initial intervention meeting and engaged with on an ongoing basis afterwards to encourage them to support at-risk individuals when law enforcement and social service representatives are not present.
Interventions in a variety of settings: It can be difficult for authorities to make contact with the high risk individuals that focused deterrence strategies need to engage with the most. Programs should conduct outreach in a variety of settings, including official settings such as at parole meetings, but also community settings, such as at school, homes, or in public spaces.
Recruit strong case managers: As focused deterrence is an interagency effort, it can be difficult for at-risk individuals to access the social services they are offered in a timely and efficient manner. Case managers capable of coordinating service providers can ensure that at-risk individuals receive the services they need.