NCJ Number
116751
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Information from discussions with metropolitan police departments form the basis of this analysis of new approaches being used to combat drug dealing and of potential impacts of these approaches.
Abstract
Police and other experts think that rising crime is linked to sales of crack cocaine, with threatened and actual violence by drug dealers a growing concern. The importation and distribution process involves four steps and complex relationships. To respond to growing public concern about drug trafficking, police agencies are using new approaches in conjunction with more traditional ones. Techniques like crackdowns and civil abatement procedures are refinements of techniques that police have been using to deal with crimes like prostitution. At the street level, the new efforts include street enforcement, crack enforcement, problem-oriented policing, and citizen-oriented enforcement. Street and crack enforcement strategies use building and fire code enforcement, along with tenant eviction if the property is rented. Problem-oriented policing involves gathering and analyzing data on individuals, incidents, and police responses as the first step in developing particular prevention or enforcement strategies. Citizen-oriented policing involves the formation of community groups to eliminate the conditions that contribute to neighborhood drug sales. Recent evaluations of some specific programs indicate mixed results of these efforts. Recommendations for future research and 16 reference notes.