NCJ Number
154262
Journal
Human Relations Volume: 45 Issue: 12 Dated: (1992) Pages: 1293-1310
Date Published
1992
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Based on ethnographic interviews with 35 current and former undercover narcotics agents in a moderate-sized midwestern municipality, this paper examines strategies of interaction used by undercover agents during covert drug transactions, with emphasis on the extent to which the strategies depend on the particular drugs involved.
Abstract
The research focused on four drugs: marijuana, LSD, crack cocaine, and heroin. The analysis focused on the concept of "interaction as infiltration," a new interpretation of dramaturgical theory which considers the relationship between the structural (extent of group closure) and qualitative (extent of verbal and nonverbal machination needed to deceive) aspects of role performances. The analysis indicated that the degree of dissembling required to create the believability required to purchase undercover varied according to the drug involved. Moving from marijuana to LSD to crack cocaine to heroin required increasing levels of dissembling. However, variables such as class, race, gender, or any combination of these factors could become barriers to persons wishing to infiltrate a particular group. Thus, skillful dramaturgy is not necessarily all that is needed to overcome closure in any group, including both ordinary social groups and groups of drug offenders. 45 references (Author abstract modified)