What actually IS Deterrence?

What does effective deterrence actually look like — and how do you prove it works? TalkLPnews host, Amber Bradley, and Steve Lindsey, Co-Founder & Chief Technologist, LVT open a new series on deterrence and prevention, starting with a cold definition of what makes deterrence effective. Using the LPRC’s framework — “See it, get it, fear it” — Steve breaks down the psychology behind why some deterrents work and others lose their edge fast. They dig into the TikTok era, where cameras have lost their authority. A recent Harris Poll found 75% of people still improve their behavior on camera — but 25% simply don’t care anymore. Steve explains the symbiotic relationship between accountability and deterrence: without consequences, the deterrent collapses. The conversation moves from prerecorded messages that get ignored like motion lights to AI-powered talk-downs that call out what someone is wearing and doing — in any language, any style, any persona. Surfer dude. Teenager. Old English. The scalability problem is real, and LVT’s approach uses AI to filter noise before escalating to humans. They also tackle the hardest question: how do you measure something that didn’t happen? Steve walks through a practical ROI framework — baseline your crime rate, apply deterrence, watch for that 70% reduction. But he warns: a solution that works in month one can fail by month three as desensitization sets in. The key is future-proofing with a dynamic system that adapts as fast as the red actors testing it. This episode launches the “Game Over for Guesswork” research survey, debuting at Apex, with a chance to win a retro gaming system. Take the 2 minute survey and help us define how to quantify prevention! Learn more about LVT here.