Exploring criminal justice policy transfer models and mobilities using a case study of violence reduction
| Author | Annette Robertson,William Graham |
| Published date | 01 July 2022 |
| Date | 01 July 2022 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1748895821991607 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895821991607
Criminology & Criminal Justice
2022, Vol. 22(3) 423 –441
© The Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1748895821991607
journals.sagepub.com/home/crj
Exploring criminal justice
policy transfer models and
mobilities using a case study
of violence reduction
William Graham
Abertay University, UK
Annette Robertson
Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
Abstract
Although there is growing interest in criminal justice policy transfer, a dearth of empirical research
in this area has been acknowledged. This article addresses this gap by presenting the results of
research conducted on a case of policy transfer of a criminal justice programme, focused on
group/gang violence reduction, from America to Scotland. Policy transfer models were used
to develop, frame and conduct the analysis of what was considered a ‘successful’ programme
transfer; however, it was found that no single model could fully account conceptually for a key
finding of the research, namely a policy transfer ‘backflow’. This article details the key processes,
mechanisms and outcomes of the policy transfer and in doing so reflects on the usefulness of
orthodox and non-orthodox/social-constructionist policy transfer approaches in understanding
the outcomes of this case of criminal justice programme transfer.
Keywords
Gangs, policing, policy transfer, violence reduction
Introduction
In 2008, the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)1 initiated a new programme, the
Glasgow Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (hereinafter ‘Glasgow CIRV’), with
the aim of finding a long-term solution to the problem of gang violence in the city. The
Corresponding author:
William Graham, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
Email: w.graham@abertay.ac.uk
991607CRJ0010.1177/1748895821991607Criminology & Criminal JusticeGraham and Robertson
research-article2021
Article
424 Criminology & Criminal Justice 22(3)
development of ‘Glasgow CIRV’ drew heavily on the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce
Violence (hereinafter referred to as ‘CIRV’ to differentiate between the two initiatives),
which had been established in 2007 to address Cincinnati’s gang/group violence prob-
lem. The creation of ‘CIRV’ drew heavily on the concept of the ‘focussed deterrence
strategy’ (FDS) developed in the mid-1990s as part of ‘Boston Operation Ceasefire’, also
referred to as ‘The Boston Gun Project’, to tackle homicides associated with gangs/
groups involved in drugs supply and acquisitive crime (Braga et al., 1999, 2001; Kennedy
et al., 1996; Kennedy, 1997). The concept of ‘FDS’, which involves a proactive, prob-
lem-orientated policing approach, was subsequently adopted and used in many violence
reduction programmes and initiatives across the United States, including Oakland and
Los Angeles, Cleveland, Detroit and Minneapolis (National Network for Safer
Communities, 2014), but it was the Cincinnati example that largely informed Glasgow
CIRV, hence the focus here.
The problem common to Cincinnati and Glasgow was persistent cross-generational
gang or group-related violence, involving high levels of offending and victimisation
among relatively low numbers of individuals, and reflecting social norms and group
dynamics, which was seen to demand new social control mechanisms, or levers, both
formal and informal, in order to prevent/deter cycles of offending and re-offending. It
was also recognised that some gang and group members wanted to desist from offending
(Kennedy, 1997). Although the gang cultures of America and Scotland were seen to dif-
fer (guns were more prevalent in America; knives, bottles and sticks in Scotland; alcohol
misuse a significant factor in Scotland, unlike in the United States, where, in compari-
son, ethnicity was a factor); the VRU nonetheless recognised that common socio-eco-
nomic factors (both are post-industrial cities, experiencing economic decline, high levels
of unemployment and rising violent crime, with large urban youth populations experi-
encing deprivation and involved in territorial issues/turf wars) underpinned gang/group
violence, meaning similar deterrence approaches to those undertaken in the United
States, could potentially work in Glasgow.
The experiences of Cincinnati thus became a focus for Glasgow’s fact-finding endeav-
ours in seeking to develop an appropriate model to capitalise on the apparent success of
such strategies in America, using elements of FDS to reduce gang-related violence, ini-
tially in one part of the city (‘Glasgow CIRV’, 2009). Interviews with key stakeholders
revealed that Glasgow initially decided to copy the Cincinnati model ‘in its entirety’
(‘Glasgow CIRV’ Project Manager Interview). This meant developing a similar organi-
sational structure and a multi-agency approach, comprising members of various city
agencies, including police, social work, housing, community safety and education. In
operational terms, this meant approaching gang members who were involved in violence
and, using the core principles underpinning FDS, offering help, support and access to
various services if they chose to engage with the project and change their lifestyle by
rejecting violence. However, if they elected not to engage, warnings were also given of
a stronger law enforcement response targeting any ongoing violence associated with
individual gang members and gangs as a whole.
During this period, one of the authors (Graham) was a senior police officer and Deputy
Project Manager of ‘Glasgow CIRV’, a position held for over 2 years until retirement
from the police in 2010. He then embarked on doctoral research to explore this policy
To continue reading
Request your trial