Focused deterrence seeks to change the offender’s behavior by understanding the underlying dynamics that produce crime, the conditions that sustain recurring crime problems, and the implementation of an appropriately focused combined strategy of law enforcement, community mobilization, and social service actions. These strategies are also known as “Pulling Levers”.
This type of focused deterrence, in particular, aims to target individuals who have a history of highly violent behavior and a high risk of recidivism, who generally constitute a small percentage of individuals with criminal behavior, but who end up being responsible for a large percentage of all crimes.
The police, prosecutors, judiciary, and prison system, as well as social services, form an integrated group to monitor and work with these individuals, whether they are free or incarcerated. Their families are also a priority in social programs and programs that strengthen the ties with the individuals.
In the specific case of these interventions, high-risk actors are identified through analysis and intelligence. Those individuals then become the subject of a communication initiative (through “forums” or “group calls”) aimed at informing them that they are under constant scrutiny, that new episodes of violence will not be tolerated, and that, in case of recidivism, the full weight of the law will be applied. At the same time, actions associated with the provision of public and social services are developed, and links are promoted with community leaders, who provide moral support to the intervention.