NCJ Number
53106
Date Published
1978
Length
65 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY THE NEW ORLEANS, LA., POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER LEAA GRANT FUNDING TO AID THE NARCOTICS SECTION IN THE DETECTION AND APPREHENSION OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
Abstract
THREE NEEDS WERE EVIDENT FROM CONDITIONS EXISTING IN THE NARCOTICS SECTION: (1) A SYSTEM SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO PERMIT ARRESTING OFFICERS TO PROCESS THEIR OWN EVIDENCE WITHOUT USING THE NARCOTICS SECTION AS A CONDUIT TO THE DEPARTMENT CRIME LABORATORY; (2) DISTRICT PLAIN CLOTHES OFFICERS SHOULD BE TRAINED AND EQUIPPED TO CONDUCT ROUTINE NARCOTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND BE REQUIRED TO HANDLE ONLY MARIHUANA EVIDENCE; AND (3) THE NARCOTICS SECTION SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT TO DEAL EFFICIENTLY WITH MAJOR NARCOTICS DEALERS, INCLUDING MONEY TO PURCHASE NARCOTICS FROM OFFENDERS, AUTOMOBILES NOT CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AS POLICE VEHICLES, AND ELECTRONIC AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT. IT WAS EXPECTED THAT PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ADJUSTING FOR MANPOWER SHORTAGES (PROVIDING OVERTIME FUNDS FOR NARCOTICS OFFICERS), USING SOPHISTICATED INVESTIGATIVE EQUIPMENT, AND MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR DISTRICT OFFICERS TO HANDLE ALL ASPECTS OF MARIHUANA ARRESTS. THE RESEARCH DESIGN FOR PROJECT EVALUATION EMPHASIZED THE ANTICIPATED SHIFT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARIHUANA ARRESTS FROM THE NARCOTICS SECTION TO THE DISTRICT LEVEL. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT IN IMPROVING THE ABILITY OF DISTRICT OFFICERS TO APPREHEND MAJOR PEDDLERS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS WAS EVALUATED FOR THE PERIOD FROM AUGUST 1973 THROUGH JULY 1975. THE ANALYSIS WAS BASED ON A RANDOM 10-PERCENT SAMPLE OF MARIHUANA, AMPHETAMINE, AND BARBITURATE ARRESTS AND 100 PERCENT OF HEROIN ARRESTS NOTED IN THE DEPARTMENT REGISTER. SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE PROPORTION OF MARIHUANA ARRESTS HANDLED BY DISTRICT OFFICERS OCCURRED DURING THE STUDY PERIOD. ALL DISTRICT OFFICERS RECEIVED SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN THE HANDLING OF THESE ARRESTS. THE PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH REGARD TO UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS FOR BOTH CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCING. CHANGES IN LEVELS OF AMPHETAMINE AND BARBITURATE ARRESTS WERE NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AS HEROIN AND MARIHUANA ARRESTS. PROGRESS WAS MADE IN THE APPREHENSION OF MAJOR DRUG PEDDLERS IN THE CITY. RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THE EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT ARE NOTED, ARREST DATA ARE TABULATED, AND ADDITIONAL PROJECT INFORMATION IS APPENDED. (DEP)