Operation Ceasefire

Direct communication with
violent gang members about their behavior, coupled with effective suppression
strategies and legitimate alternatives, serve as the foundation of Operation
Ceasefire. To curb youth violence in the City, working groups comprised of key
stakeholders–including the Boston Police Department, other law enforcement
agencies, prosecutors, probation officers, and community members–meet biweekly
as part of Operation Ceasefire. Referred to as a “pulling levers” approach,
this strategy applies strong and targeted pressure to individuals involved in
violent gang-related crime, while simultaneously offering alternatives to the
gang lifestyle.

Gang members are often under
court-imposed supervision, whether probation, parole, or youth services. Such
supervision subjects these violent individuals to a wide range of court-imposed
penalties, including curfews, area restrictions, probation surrenders, and
enhanced prosecution efforts at both federal and state levels. Police and
probation officers check on gang members at home to ensure compliance with the
terms of probation; violations can result in a probation hearing and ultimately
could return an individual to custody.

Operation Ceasefire uses “call ins” when a pattern emerges in which a
particular gang engages in a series of violent activities. At a call in, gang
members are called into court for a meeting with criminal justice professionals
and community-based agencies. At the meeting, the BPD lets gang members know, we
know who they are and what they are involved in, and that the Department will pursue
aggressive law enforcement and enhanced prosecution if the violence persists. The
Department also offers alternatives and services to gang members should they
choose to straighten out their lives and end the violence. This carrot-and-stick
approach requires considerable commitment by the local agencies to ensure that the
youth receive viable alternatives to the gang lifestyle.