NCJ Number
200291
Date Published
May 2003
Length
293 pages
Annotation
After providing an overview of methamphetamine, its history, production methods, and impact on people's health and the environment, this report presents the methodology and findings of the evaluation of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services' (U.S. Justice Department) Methamphetamine Initiative for each of the six sites involved.
Abstract
In response to the dramatic increase in methamphetamine production, sale, and use in many U.S. communities over the past two decades, the Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) created the Methamphetamine Initiative program, which provided $4.5 million to six U.S. cities to implement anti-methamphetamine projects. The cities were Phoenix, AZ, Dallas, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Salt Lake City, UT, Minneapolis, MN, and Little Rock, AR. The evaluation strategy was multi-faceted and focused on the implementation process and a cross-site analysis. Data collection addressed the history of the meth market at each of the sites. Additional information was collected through face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders. Evaluators also conducted on-site observations of lab seizures and other law enforcement interventions, partnership meetings, and project-related events. Although all six sites attributed the onset of methamphetamine in their communities to outlaw motorcycle groups, four of the sites had a much longer meth history, with at least one site's meth problem dating back to the 1970's. Project interventions typically included clandestine lab seizures and meth-related arrests. All sites participated in some prevention and education efforts; and they organized and provided training for patrol officers, narcotics officers, community organizations, residents, and businesses. Partnerships were a key component across all sites. The overall intent of the project was to approach local meth problems by using a community policing approach; however, the linkages between the Meth Initiative and community policing were not strong in five of the six sites, although all of the sites were actively involved in some form of community policing agency-wide. The most comprehensive link to community policing was in the Salt Lake City project, which used a citywide, multiagency Community Action Team to concentrate on problematic business and household addresses and general community concerns. Based on the findings of the evaluation, recommendations for intervention are to identify the source of meth; approach the problem from the perspective of meth as a closed-market phenomenon; identify the user population; evaluate local sale practices and current legislation regarding precursor chemicals; gain support and resources from various city agencies; identify or outline appropriate seizure, clean up, and decontamination policies; and review and revise endangerment procedures and legislation; Prevention recommendations pertain to the training of police officers and other first responders, strategic community groups, and the general public. Treatment recommendations include working with a drug court and cooperating with local treatment providers. Community-policing recommendations focus on involving as many local agencies as possible in anti-meth efforts, attacking the meth problem with a multi-pronged strategy, and engaging the community in the effort to combat the problem. 30 exhibits, 10 references, the evaluation questionnaire, and an addendum to the evaluation of the Meth Initiative in Salt Lake City