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Gang crackdowns and offender centrality in a countywide co-offending network: A networked evaluation of Operation Triple Beam

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  • Smith, Thomas Bryan

Abstract

In 2018, the US Marshals Service (USMS) and local law enforcement implemented “Operation Triple Beam” (OTB) in and around Houston, TX. While OTB has been touted as an exemplary initiative, its impact on offending and co-offending remains a mystery. Using over a decade of web-scraped arrest data from 16 law enforcement agencies I evaluate the impact of OTB on co-offending network involvement in Galveston County, TX.

Suggested Citation

  • Smith, Thomas Bryan, 2021. "Gang crackdowns and offender centrality in a countywide co-offending network: A networked evaluation of Operation Triple Beam," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:73:y:2021:i:c:s004723522030249x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2020.101755
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    Cited by:

    1. Smith, Thomas Bryan, 2025. "Was it a washout? Analyzing the influence of a high intensity, countywide gang crackdown on the formation of new co-offending relationships," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Gravel, Jason & Bouchard, Martin, 2025. "The tangled history of social network analysis and gang research—A long way from Street Corner Society," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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