The RASOR’S Edge: Focused Deterrence in Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville

• In Event: New Findings from the Smart Policing Initiative 1

Abstract

This paper reports on findings from an evaluation of focused deterrence in Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville (MA) Police Departments. Using an experimental design, researchers evaluated the effects of focused deterrence on recidivism and other outcomes. The three Massachusetts police agencies were part of a Smart Policing grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. A focused deterrence team of detectives, sergeant, and social worker convened call-in meetings and conducted intensive case management prior to and after the call-in meetings. To identify candidates for focused deterrence a regional database was created and merged. The top 150 offenders were then randomly assigned to treatment and control groups using a block design. After a 13-month intervention period, researchers analyzed data from criminal histories to determine whether focused deterrence had an effect on recidivism.

Authors

• Mark Swatt, Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.

• Craig Uchida, Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.

• Julie Schnobrich-Davis, Central Connecticut State University

• Christine Connor, Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.

• Mariel Shutinya, Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.