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s2-pulling_levers_critic_w15.pptxPulling Levers CRITIC
Introduction
Pulling Levers strategies have failed to be replicated in some cities
Baltimore
Minneapolis
Why????
The Boston story consists of multiple interconnected layers
The implementation of Ceasefire was possible because of the relationships formed
While quantitative evidence suggests that OPERATION CEASEFIRE is responsible for significant reductions in youth violence, this is too narrow of an interpretation
This is problematic, but why???
Creates the danger of unrealistic expectations of success
Implementation problems in replicating the Ceasefire program
Inability to sustain implemented violence prevention programs
So, to understand the innovations in Boston, need to focus on two (2) key elements:
Innovation in Policing?
Outline of Anthony Braga and Chris Winship’s Critic Position:
Boston Gun Project & Operation Ceasefire
Evidence of Impact
The Larger Boston Story*
Development of “network of capacity
Accountability and police-community relations
Implications
* Heart of their argument
6
Boston Gun Project
Overview of the Boston Gun Project
Problem-oriented policing (POP) strategy
Problem:
Interagency working group
Response
Operation Ceasefire
Operation Ceasefire was focused on deterring ongoing conflicts among youth gangs
How was the initiative implemented???
Interagency working group (Law enforcement personnel, street workers, and Ten Point Coalition) met on a biweekly basis to address outbreaks of serious gang violence
Pulling Levers strategy
Pulling Levers strategy:
Direct (explicit) communication of “stop the violence”
Backed-up message of deterrence or “promise” through Enforcement Levers
Simultaneously offered Services and other kinds of help
Empirical Evidence
Operation Ceasefire evaluation
Funded by DOJ
Analyzed trends in serious violence, 1991 – 1998
Results
63 percent decrease in monthly # youth homicides
32 percent decrease in monthly # shots-fired calls
25 percent decrease in monthly # gun assaults
44 percent decrease in monthly # youth gun assaults
Youth homicide reduction trend in Boston was unique in comparison to the rest of the U.S.
Other perspectives concerning effectiveness of Operation Ceasefire…
Decrease in homicides in Boston may have occurred without the Ceasefire intervention
Fagan (2002) – Review of gun homicide
Downward trend in gun homicides in other cities in Massachusetts before intervention
Levitt (2004) – Analysis of homicide trends in 1990s
Effects of Ceasefire in Boston, and broken windows policing and Compstat in NYC , on homicide was limited
Suggests other factors can account for the national decline in homicide, violent and property crimes during the 1990s
E.g., Increase in # of police, Rising prison population, and waning of crack-cocaine epidemic
National Academies’ Panel
Operation Ceasefire responsible for some of the decrease in youth homicide
However, complex factors affect youth homicide
Therefore, may be difficult to determine how much Ceasefire was responsible for decline
Weak (limited) scientific evidence for pulling levers strategies in other cities
Did not use a randomized experimental design cannot rule out internal threats to validity
In other words, cannot definitively determine that Ceasefire is the sole factor responsible for the decline in youth homicide in Boston
The Larger Boston Story
Foundation of strategy has two key elements:
Network of Capacity
Evolving collaboration(s) beyond the borders of criminal justice agencies are necessary to legitimize, fund, and operate complex strategies needed to prevent and control youth violence
Unfortunately, this is missing from many law enforcement circles interested in implementing the Operation Ceasefire initiative
Network of Capacity
Solid working relations built before forming of Boston Gun Project
“network of capacity” to prevent youth violence
CJ agencies
Human service agencies
Community groups
Ceasefire capitalized on existing relationships to target gang violence
Partnership provided a whole host of “levers” to pull
Able to provide “carrot” and “stick”
Key community members helped to facilitate the success of Operation Ceasefire
Formation of “network of capacity”
Youth violence epidemic in Boston
CJ agencies began working together b/c could not address alone
Boston Police Department (detectives, line officers, YVSF)
Probation
County prosecution
Federal agencies (ATF and U.S. attorney’s office)
Examples:
Operation Night Flight
Safe Neighborhoods
YVSF formed partnerships with social service agencies
Summer of Opportunity program
Boston Community Centers’ streetworker program
Dorchester Youth Collaborative
Police Accountability and Police- Community Relations
Relationship between BPD and minority communities pre-dated Operation Ceasefire
1980s – Youth violence epidemic aggressive and indiscriminate policing tactics
BPD actions St. Clair Commission
Police Accountability
Reform of BPD
1990s – overhaul of organization, mission, tactics
Examples:
Police - Community Relations
Development of community voice
1992 – Ten Point Coalition
Activist black clergy concerned with
Preventing youth from joining gangs
Sending anti-violence message to all youth
Relationship with BPD
Started as adversarial; very critical of BPD’s ability to prevent youth violence
Eventually, formed effective relationships with specific YVSF officers
shared understanding of nature of youth violence in
Boston
Small # of youth in neighborhoods involved in violence
Majority of youth needed to be served by
Intervention
prevention
Small # needed to be removed from the streets
Police Accountability and Police - Community Relations
Ten Point Coalition relationship with BPD (cont’d)
Protected police from public criticism when involved in activities believed to serve the youth and communities
Joint effort in handling media
Calmed citizens fears
Eased potential of explosive events
BPD asked to take responsibility for its actions
If BPD took responsibility for its actions, then told public that BPD reacted appropriately
Police - Community Relations
Community and political support of Ceasefire
Ten Point clarified to BPD:
BPD relied on political support from Ten Point
Ceasefire had to pass the Ten Point Coalition’s test
BPD needed two things:
Implications
Many jurisdictions have experimented with replicating Boston’s pulling levers approach
However, not all have been successful –Why???
Relationship intensive
Must haves…
Successful collaboration, Accountability, and Trust
Obstacles that affect development and maintenance
Distrust amongst members of the working group
Problematic because need a functional partnership!
Lack of shared understanding of the problem
Lack of community involvement
Braga and Winship argue that community involvement and political support are critical to the replication and maintenance of pulling levers strategies – Why
Law enforcement levers can be harsh
