NCJ Number
54262
Date Published
1979
Length
53 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF A STUDY OF DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE NARCOTICS UNITS OF SIX URBAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
THE 1.5-YEAR STUDY SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY POLICE PERCEPTIONS OF DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS; NARCOTICS UNIT GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STRATEGIES; AND MODES OF ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL OVER SUCH KEY AREAS OF OPERATION AS EVIDENCE, FUNDS, INFORMANTS, AND NARCOTICS AGENT RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING. INFORMATION GATHERED FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS, INTERVIEWS, AND OBSERVATIONS INDICATED THAT, IN GENERAL, NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE INVESTIGATOR-CENTERED RATHER THAN ORGANIZATION-CENTERED. IMPLICATIONS OF EACH OF THESE MODES OF CONTROL WERE EXPLORED RELATIVE TO SUCH ACTIVITIES AS GOAL SETTING, MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT OF ENFORCEMENT IMPACT, BUDGETING, RECORDKEEPING, TARGETING STRATEGIES, RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL, INTERORGANIZATIONAL AND INTRAORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONS, AND USE AND CONTROL OF INFORMANTS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO CONTROL THE ACTIONS OF INVESTIGATORS IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF EFFECTIVE NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT. ALTHOUGH ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL REDUCES THE FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATOR, IT RESULTS IN AN INCREASED CAPACITY FOR ACHIEVING ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES AND GOALS. THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE STUDY'S FINAL REPORT TOUCHES ON THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS, TOGETHER WITH STUDY METHODS. SELECTED RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF NARCOTICS UNITS (GOALS, ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL, PERSONNEL ROTATION, INFORMATION, RECORDKEEPING, INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS, UNIT LOCATION AND LAYOUT, RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING, EQUIPMENT, INFORMANTS, SEARCH WARRANTS AND RAIDS, EVIDENCE, SHIFT SCHEDULES, CORRUPTION CONTROL, INTERAGENCY RELATIONS) ARE OUTLINED. FOR FULL FINAL REPORT, SEE NCJ-56873. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)