Focused Deterrence

Philadelphia piloted a focused deterrence program in 2013.¹Michael D’Onofrio, “Philadelphia, State Consider Rebooting ‘Focused Deterrence’ to Combat Gun Violence,” Philadelphia Tribune, July 27, 2019, http://bit.ly/2BlgXhs. The Philadelphia Police Department partnered with Temple University and the National Institute of Justice to implement the two-year pilot at a cost of $150,000.²Ibid. This funding supported evaluation of the impact of focused deterrence on area-level shootings and crimes committed by specifically targeted gangs.³Caterina G. Roman et al., “Philadelphia Focused Deterrence: Findings from the Impact Evaluation,” Temple University Key Findings Research Brief, September 2017, http://bit.ly/2J2DbsS.

The Philadelphia Police Department also partnered with the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department, First Judicial District, and Family Court to collaboratively identify and target individuals who are at risk of being victimized or of perpetrating violent crimes.⁴Philadelphia Police Department, “PPD Violence Prevention Strategies, Initiatives and Partnerships,” August 2017, http://bit.ly/31scHaD. These high-risk individuals may include members of gangs or other violent organizations.⁵Ibid.

Once specific group members were identified as high-risk, the Philadelphia Police Department gathered these individuals in a “call-in” to send a clear message that gun violence would not be tolerated without consequence. If violence continued, all members of the violent groups would be investigated and subjected to enforcement action. During Philadelphia’s first call-in in April 2013, 40 offenders attended by order of the Court of Common Pleas based on the offenders’ probation or parole status.⁶Bryan Lentz and Andrew Wellbrock, “Focused Deterrence in Philadelphia: Fighting Crime with Redemption and Hope,” Social Innovations Journal 15 (November 3, 2013), http://bit.ly/33Awu9k.

Coupled with the enforcement tactics, the focused deterrence team also provided individuals with social services and connected individuals with community leaders, street outreach workers, or other credible messengers. After the April 2013 call-in, a dozen of the 40 offenders in attendance were enrolled in services and connected with a social service coordinator.⁷Id. The social service aspect was critical to show high-risk individuals that assistance is available and that the community is invested in their well-being.

Philadelphia sustained its focused deterrence program for only a few years, but in that short time the program was successful in reducing community violence. In the 24 months following implementation of focused deterrence, targeted neighborhoods witnessed a statistically significant reduction in fatal and nonfatal shootings, a far greater decrease than seen in other neighborhoods during the same period of time.⁸Roman et al., “Philadelphia Focused Deterrence.” In South Philadelphia, focused deterrence resulted in a 35 percent reduction in shootings 24 months after implementation.⁹Ibid.