LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DRUG REHABILITATION - IS A BRIDGE OF TRUST POSSIBLE?

• NCJ Number: 45777
• Author(s): G C SWANSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Legal Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SPECIAL REPRINT FROM CONTEMPORARY DRUG PROBLEMS (WINTER 1975), P 493-503

Annotation

VIEWING THE WORLDS OF POLICE AND DRUG USERS AS SEPARATE SUBCULTURES IN CONFLICT WITH ONE ANOTHER, STEPS FOR INCREASING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CLIENTS AND POLICE IN THE CONTEXT OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE PROPOSED.

Abstract

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT BEFORE THE STAFF OF ANY DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM DECIDES TO OPEN UP CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT MUST FIRST DEAL WITH ITS OWN INTERNAL PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN AND AROUND PROGRAM FACILITIES. SUCH A STEP MAY REQUIRE THE HIRING OF SECURITY PERSONNEL DURING PERIODS OF HIGH LEVEL CLIENT ACTIVITY. A BALANCED STAFF OF EX-ADDICT AND NON-EX-ADDICT PERSONNEL IS SUGGESTED, ALONG WITH HEAVY EMPHASIS ON INSERVICE TRAINING AT ALL LEVELS TO UPGRADE SKILLS AND PROFESSIONALIZE THEIR ATTITUDES AND TREATMENT ORIENTATION. A SECOND STEP TOWARD DIMINISHING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN REHABILITATION CLIENTS AND POLICE IS TO HAVE REHABILITATION PERSONNEL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE POLICE AGENCIES TO DISCUSS INTERAGENCY RELATIONSHIPS. THIS MEETING WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY REGULAR MEETINGS WITH MIDDLE-MANAGEMENT POLICE OFFICIALS. THROUGH THESE POLICE SUPERVISORS, THE LINE OFFICER, WHO HAS DAILY CONTACT WITH THE TREATMENT FACILITY AND ITS CLIENTS, WOULD BE INFLUENCED IN HIS ATTITUDES AND OPERATIONS TOWARD DRUG REHABILITATION CLIENTS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP IS FOR REHABILITATION PERSONNEL TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE TRAINING OF THE LINE POLICE OFFICER OR EVEN THE CADET. THIS TRAINING WOULD BE ON-GOING, WITH RESULTS CAREFULLY EVALUATED. A FOURTH AREA OF MUTUAL HELP IS COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND REHABILITATION PERSONNEL ON OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FOR PROGRAM CLIENTS. ONE CONTACT PERSON SHOULD BE DESIGNATED WITHIN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAM AND ONE WITHIN EACH POLICE AGENCY. THROUGH THESE CONTACT PERSONS, ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO REACH CLIENTS FOR WHOM WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND HAVE THEM TURN THEMSELVES IN AT A SPECIFIC TIME AND PLACE, MOST APPROPRIATELY TO A DESIGNATED INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE POLICE AGENCY. A FINAL DESIRED RESULT WOULD BE REGULAR LINE OFFICER VISITS TO TREATMENT FACILITIES IN EACH DISTRICT TO CONVERSE INFORMALLY WITH CLIENTS AND STAFF. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)