Case Study of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force

• NCJ Number: 219276
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 200-220
• Author(s): Thomas W. Brewer; Eric Jefferis; Frederick Butcher; Todd D. Wiles
• Date Published: June 2007
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2003-PS-PSN-308A
• Sponsoring Agency: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Case Study
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents a descriptive case study of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), with an emphasis on its operations in Youngstown, OH.

Abstract

Interview data regarding task member perceptions of interagency cooperation reveal that many officers found the experience positive, although there were some mixed findings regarding the ease of interagency cooperation. For example, clashes were noted between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) due to their similar operations within the same cities. Other results indicate that the task force made 1,972 arrests during the study period for a variety of offenses, most commonly drug offenses with larceny and failure to appear. From the perspective of taking dangerous offenders off the street, the task force served its purpose well and could be considered effective. However, the authors argue that simply removing offenders from the streets is not a long-term solution. The authors recommend that the task force address the root causes of high crime rates in the targeted areas in order to have a more permanent impact on the quality of life in these areas. Future research should empirically test whether multijurisdictional task forces reduce crime and serve as a deterrent for would-be criminals. Data on the NOVFTF were collected between June 2003 and July 2005 and included information on all arrests made by the task force. Data on the fugitives, including their criminal histories, places of arrest, and demographic information was gathered from the Warrant Information Network and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. Additionally, a series of interviews were conducted with street-level officers and the administrative personnel involved with the NOVFTF in order to assess their attitudes toward the task force. Interviews were conducted in the Youngstown and Akron locations and focused on interagency cooperation, training, the media, and perceived impact on the targeted communities. An interview was also conducted with the United States attorney in Cleveland. Figure, tables, note, and references