Focused Deterrence seeks to change the behavior of offenders by understanding the underlying dynamics that produce crime and the conditions that sustain recurring criminal problems, as well as implementing a combined focused strategy of law enforcement actions, community mobilization, and social services. These strategies are also known as “Pulling Levers”.
This type of focused deterrence in particular aims to reduce drug trafficking and drug-related violence in certain communities. The strategy – called “Drug Market Intervention” – considers that the drug problem is linked to drug markets and involves integrated work between the police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the judiciary, and the prison system, as well as social healthcare services, combining deterrence with community mobilization.
In the specific case of these interventions, street dealers are identified, violent offenders are arrested, and criminal cases are suspended for non-violent dealers. The latter are called to meetings in a process referres to as “call-ins”, in which their families, the police and criminal justice authorities, service providers (who provide jobs and public services), and community leaders are involved. During those meetings they are told directly that their involvement in drug trafficking must end and that, although the community cares about them, it rejects their behavior.