NCJ Number
146618
Date Published
1993
Length
757 pages
Annotation
This book describes and explains the activities and issues that are at the intersection of U.S. criminal justice and foreign policy.
Abstract
Two chapters examine the internationalization of U.S. policing, particularly criminal investigation, from the Nation's beginning until the early 1990's. Over this time, the basic challenges presented by dealing with foreign sovereigns, conflicting political interests, and alien criminal law enforcement systems have persisted. Two other chapters analyze the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to immobilize drug traffickers in Europe and Latin America. These chapters link the two chapters that precede them with the two that follow. Like the first two chapters, the DEA chapters address the international activities of U.S. police officials and the nature of transgovernmental police work. Like chapters six and seven, they examine how U.S. law enforcement officials have dealt with the challenges that arise in trying to extract information, evidence, and people from foreign jurisdictions. The remaining four chapters explain why some international law enforcement efforts have proven more successful than others. The authors argue that the United States' "war on drugs" has provided the impetus for many significant developments in the internationalization of U.S. criminal law enforcement since the late 1960's. They believe there is evidence to support the thesis that criminal justice systems throughout the world are moving toward a more harmonious network of relationships strongly influenced by U.S. pressures, models, and examples. Appended information on U.S. law enforcement efforts overseas, chapter footnotes and a subject index