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A Framework for Addressing Violence and Serious Crime

Focused Deterrence, Legitimacy, and Prevention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2021

Anthony A. Braga
Affiliation:
Northeastern University, Boston
David M. Kennedy
Affiliation:
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York

Summary

This Element examines an increasingly important community crime prevention strategy - focused deterrence. This strategy seeks to change offender behavior by understanding underlying crime-producing dynamics and conditions that sustain recurring crime problems, and implementing a blended set of law enforcement, community mobilization, and social service actions. The approach builds on recent theorizing on optimizing deterrence, mobilizing informal social control, enhancing police legitimacy, and reducing crime opportunities through situational crime prevention. There are three main types of focused deterrence strategies: group violence intervention programs, drug market intervention programs, and individual offender programs. A growing number of rigorous program evaluations find focused deterrence to be an effective crime prevention strategy. However, a number of steps need to be taken to ensure focused deterrence strategies are implemented properly. These steps include creating a network of capacity through partnering agencies, conducting upfront and ongoing problem analysis, and developing accountability structures and sustainability plans.
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A Framework for Addressing Violence and Serious Crime
  • Anthony A. Braga, Northeastern University, Boston, David M. Kennedy, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
  • Online ISBN: 9781108938143
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A Framework for Addressing Violence and Serious Crime
  • Anthony A. Braga, Northeastern University, Boston, David M. Kennedy, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
  • Online ISBN: 9781108938143
Available formats
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Save element to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

A Framework for Addressing Violence and Serious Crime
  • Anthony A. Braga, Northeastern University, Boston, David M. Kennedy, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
  • Online ISBN: 9781108938143
Available formats
×