Success of Tough Drug Enforcement

• NCJ Number: 164216
• Author(s): R E Peterson
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 84 pages
• Corporate Author: Performance Accountability Evaluations
• Sale Source: Performance Accountability Evaluations
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC.

Annotation

This report presents data to show that investments in drug law enforcement and tough sentencing have been effective in reducing illicit drug use and related crime; recommendations are offered to improve the effectiveness of drug policies.

Abstract

Despite efforts by a campaign to discredit law enforcement as an effective strategy for addressing drug abuse by those who would legalize drugs, tougher drug enforcement has yielded significant societal benefits. From 1986 through 1992, a 13- percent increase in law enforcement personnel yielded approximately a 39-percent increase in violent crime arrests and a 110-percent increase in heroin/cocaine trafficking arrests. The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration posted a $22 million surplus for taxpayers in 1990 with assets seized from drug lords. Crime and violence has decreased with an increase in drug incarceration rates. Rational enforcement efforts have targeted the most serious and dangerous drug offenders. Most imprisoned for drug offenses are repeat or violent criminals. Although the odds of imprisonment for drug offenses have increased, the Nation is still too lenient with drug felons. Mandatory minimum sentences have had a positive impact, and problems predicted have not developed. Racial disparities in the justice system are largely explained by differences in crime victimization and complaint rates; police practices show the lowest level of race discrepancy, and for crimes with the most police discretion, arrests are predominantly among whites. Weakening drug enforcement will lead to fewer individuals seeking and receiving drug treatment. Frequent monitored drug testing with swift and certain sanctions that are progressively tougher with each violation can lead to low recidivism for offenders under community supervision. This does not mean that formal treatment is not of benefit to some addicts. The Federal Health and Human Services Department should increase its allocation to drug treatment from 1 percent to 10 percent of its budget. Extensive figures and tables and 369 notes