Perception Change after a Focused Deterrence Intervention

• In Event: Choice, Deterrence and Violence in Context

Abstract

Gun violence is a massive problem, and one disproportionately committed by repeat offenders. One of the more successful approaches is known as ‘focused deterrence’ (FD), where repeat gun offenders are identified and informed that they will be given assistance to desist from these offenses, or if they commit another crime the sanctions will be more severe than before. This approach is believed to have a positive impact on violent crime, but the impact on participants’ perceptions of legitimacy and procedural justice among police is unclear.

This study aims to address these issues using data from a federal research project in central Florida. Study participants included 101 repeat gun offenders that received the FD intervention, and 29 were surveyed before and after police notified them of their FD options. A control group of 29 inmates that were primarily low-level offenders served as controls and were surveyed at the same waves. Results indicate that there was no statistical difference in the re-arrest rate of the high risk repeat gun offenders (treatment) and inmates (control) after one year, despite the gun offenders having a substantially higher number of crimes and offending risk at the start of the intervention. Concurrently, the gun offenders felt that positive interactions with police more than tripled after the FD intervention, and their perceptions of fairness of policy also increased.

Authors

• Bryanna Fox, University of South Florida

• Lexi Gill, University of South Florida

• Thomas Loughran, University of South Florida