NCJ Number
179951
Date Published
1999
Length
103 pages
Annotation
Attempting to correct the drug problem in public housing is the responsibility of residents, police, and housing management working together, and this resource manual identifies programs communities have established to deal with the drug problem in public housing and describes strategies aimed at driving drug dealers out of public housing.
Abstract
A multi-agency approach is suggested in which resources are targeted where the need is greatest and in which the focus is on violent crime, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime. This multi-agency approach involves four basic elements: (1) Law enforcement eliminates most violent offenders by coordinating and integrating the efforts of Federal, State, and local law enforcement; (2) Local police departments implement community-oriented policing to work closely with community residents; (3) The community works to prevent crime and violence from recurring by directing a broad array of human services; and (4) Federal, State, local, and private sector resources must revitalize distressed neighborhoods through economic development. The resource manual shows how to understand the public housing environment, disrupt drug markets by aggressive action, change the public housing environment to combat the drug problem, empower and motivate the community to control the drug problem, institute community-oriented policing to solve problems by working with residents, and maintain a police presence after initial enforcement actions so that police services are continued in public housing. Steps to take in dealing with the drug problem in public housing are detailed. An appendix lists addresses and telephone numbers of Department of Housing and Urban Development headquarters and field offices. References and endnotes