The Impact of Focused Deterrence on Crime: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Research on Focused Deterrence Strategies

Abstract

Focused deterrence strategies continue to be applied to prevent and control gang and group-involved violence, overt drug markets, and individual repeat offenders. Given the popularity of this crime prevention strategy, ongoing systematic review of extant evaluation evidence is needed to determine the crime reduction benefits of the approach. Following the systematic review protocols and conventions of the Campbell Collaboration, this paper presents an updated examination of the effects of focused deterrence strategies on crime. In our closer examination of program effects, meta-analyses were used to determine the size, direction, and statistical significance of the overall impact of focused deterrence strategies on crime. Our updated meta-analysis suggests that focused deterrence strategies are associated with an overall statistically significant, medium-sized crime reduction effect. However, the strongest program effect sizes continued to be generated by evaluations that use the weakest research designs. The authors conclude that this approach seems very promising in reducing crime but a more rigorous body of evaluation research needs to be developed. While results from this review are very supportive of deterrence principles, the authors believe other complementary crime control mechanisms are at work in the focused deterrence strategies described here that need to be highlighted and better understood.

Authors

• Anthony A. Braga, Northeastern University

• David Weisburd, George Mason University

• Brandon Turchan, Rutgers University