Programs Goals
Operation Regional Analytics for the Safety of Our Residents (RASOR) was a modified focused deterrence program that targeted high-risk persons in Massachusetts. The program aimed to increase their risk of getting caught and convicted while also providing them with access to a case management team and a variety of services. The goal of RASOR was to reduce offending among targeted high-risk persons.
Target Sites/Population
RASOR was implemented in three neighboring cities in Massachusetts: 1) Cambridge, 2) Everett, and 3) Somerville. The target population was chronic, cross-jurisdictional, high-risk individuals. These people were identified for inclusion by examining the records management systems of the three police departments, and selecting the top 150 based on a “social harm” risk score, which incorporated factors such as the nature of the offense, the role of the individual in the offense, and whether the incident involved a weapon, gangs, or drugs (see Evaluation Methodology for more information about the calculation of the risk score).
Program Components
For those targeted by RASOR, a detailed profile was developed by police officers, detectives, and a social worker. Each person was then assigned a Focused Deterrence Team, which included a police detective and a social worker who were responsible for notifying the individual that he or she had been identified as a potential impact player (due to the social harm risk score). The people were invited to attend a formal notification meeting through a call-in session. Warrant sweeps or crackdowns before the call-in meetings were not used because participation was voluntary.
During the meeting, participants were informed of the harm they were causing the community and were provided with outreach opportunities based on their needs (for example, substance misuse treatment, housing, or employment assistance). Participants were also informed that, because of their status as an impact player, they would be observed carefully for further unlawful behavior. They also were notified that further criminal activity on their part would warrant the use of enhanced sanctions against them.
Participation in case management and outreach also was voluntary. For those who did participate, there were regular meetings with the case management team and an action plan for treatment was developed. For those who were hesitant or unresponsive, the Focused Deterrence Team engaged family or friends to help with the initial contact. Regardless of whether they participated in the outreach/case management portion of the program, all participants were subject to intensive supervision and enforcement activities in the community.
The Focused Deterrence Team coordinated all service delivery after the call-in meeting. The team worked with social service coordinators to develop the individual treatment plans. The team also conducted follow-up meetings, attended court dates, maintained contact with those participants who were reincarcerated, and conducted outreach to service providers. The team was also responsible for sharing information among enforcement agencies as part of the enhanced monitoring component of RASOR.
Program Theory
Operation RASOR was based on a focused deterrence, or “pulling levers,” approach. Deterrence theory argues that crime can be prevented when individuals perceive the risk of apprehension and the seriousness and swiftness of sanctions to outweigh the benefits of committing a crime. Focused deterrence initiatives involve law enforcement officials delivering clear messages directly to them about the high risk of swift apprehension and punishment. The focus of such initiatives is on the most chronic, serious, violent persons who are disproportionately involved in violent crime within the community (Corsaro and Engel, 2015). In Operation RASOR, the call-in session was used to notify the targeted high-risk persons in three Massachusetts cities about the intensive supervision and enforcement activities to which they would be subjected and the enhanced sanctions they could receive for committing additional offenses.