NCJ Number
177969
Date Published
1996
Length
193 pages
Annotation
The East St. Louis Anti-Drug Initiative was a multiagency effort to strengthen the capacity of the criminal justice system in St. Clair County, Illinois, to effectively address chronic problems of open drug dealing, widespread drug use, drug-related crime, and associated deterioration in the quality of life for citizens.
Abstract
The initiative adopted five interrelated strategies: (1) brought additional resources to the criminal justice system, targeted them on the drug problem, and expanded the criminal justice system's capacity to apprehend, prosecutive, and sentence offenders; (2) created new or expanded opportunities for community service, addiction treatment, and other appropriate correctional alternatives for persons involved in minor drug- related crime; (3) improved cooperation between agencies in the criminal justice system; (4) improved linkages between criminal justice system components and the larger community; and (5) contributed to improved quality of life by addressing the chronic drug problem. An evaluation of the initiative focused on drug law enforcement organization and procedures, characteristics of drug cases and offenders, community perceptions, prosecution, probation, and treatment. The evaluation demonstrated the initiative's success as a multiagency approach. Policy implications of initiative outcomes are discussed with respect to law enforcement in the community, targeted prosecution and defense, multiagency task forces, community involvement, and the efficacy of drug treatment and rehabilitation alternatives. Tables and figures