NCJ Number
170567
Date Published
1998
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This is a Report to the Chairman, Caucus on International Narcotics Control, US Senate, concerning the operations and contributions of the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center.
Abstract
Congress established the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) within the Office of National Drug Control Policy to oversee and coordinate counterdrug technology initiatives with related Federal activities, prevent unnecessary duplication of research and development efforts, and fund counterdrug research projects. The report discusses in detail CTAC's coordination process shortcomings, including: (1) the S&T Committee does not reflect the Committee's current composition, responsibilities, and relationship to CTAC; (2) the full S&T Committee met irregularly and often was not included in decision-making about which counterdrug technologies should be funded; (3) CTAC did not regularly reassess the counterdrug technology needs of Federal agencies to ensure that its listing was current; (4) CTAC did not systematically consider and fund counterdrug technology needs of state and local agencies; (5) CTAC approved many R&D projects for funding even though they lacked comprehensive transitional plans; and (6) CTAC had no system to determine the extent to which their efforts had identified and helped to avoid unnecessary duplication. Notes, tables, figure, appendixes, abbreviations