An Evaluation of the City of Sarasota Police Department’s Drug Market Intervention

• In Event: Research on Focused Deterrence Strategies

Abstract

Beginning in 1996 with Boston’s Operation Ceasefire, the use of focused deterrence, problem-oriented policing initiatives has been increasing among law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Initial strategies were focused on reducing youth, gun, and gang violence and have since been expanded in an attempt to disrupt open air drug markets. Overall, evaluation efforts in cities such as, but not limited to, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, and Nashville have shown that focused deterrence, problem-oriented policing strategies, or “pulling levers” initiatives, are largely effective. To date, most of these initiatives have been implemented in large cities with significant crime problems. Using crime records from the Sarasota Police Department for 2008-2015 as well as comprehensive surveys and in-depth interviews with Sarasota residents, this study evaluates the impact of Sarasota, Florida’s Drug Market Intervention (DMI) on neighborhood drug, property, and violent crime rates as well as assess community residents’ perceptions of local crime and disorder. Results from this study will help scholars understand whether various “pulling levers” strategies can be successfully implemented in less populated cities with lower overall crime rates.

Authors

• Fawn Ngo, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

• Jessica M. Grosholz, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee