NCJ Number
17027
Date Published
Unknown
Length
27 pages
Annotation
A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE FAILURE OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA NARCOTICS UNIT (METRO), INVESTIGATING THE REASONS FOR THE GAP BETWEEN THE PROGRAM AIMS AND REALITY, WITH EMPHASIS ON LOCAL FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISPARITY.
Abstract
THE METRO UNIT WAS TO BE A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL, MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL, AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM FOR A THREE COUNTY AREA IN OHIO AND MICHIGAN. AGENTS WERE TO BE SUPPLIED BY VARIOUS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND WERE TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT POWERS AND BE ABLE TO CROSS COUNTY AND STATE LINES IN THEIR OPERATIONS IN THE THREE COUNTY AREA. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE UNIT IS FIRST BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. THIS SECTION INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE NEED FOR DRUG ENFORCEMENT IN THE TOLEDO METROPOLITAN AREA, THE VARIOUS ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE, AND A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF METRO--THE OPTION CHOSEN BY THE TOLEDO METROPOLITAN AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (TMACOG). SECOND, THE REASONS FOR THE DISPARITY BETWEEN PROGRAM GOALS AND THE PRESENT OUTCOME ARE EXAMINED BY FOCUSING ON THE DIFFICULTIES OF ACHIEVING THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM LISTED ABOVE-DIFFICULTIES WHICH STEM LARGELY FROM THE NATURE OF A TRADITIONALLY FRAGMENTED ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURE. FINALLY, IN THE CONCLUDING SECTION, AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO ASSESS WHETHER SUCH AN EXPERIMENT COULD BE EXPECTED TO SUCCEED, EVEN UNDER THE MOST FAVORABLE OF CONDITIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)