NCJ Number
138752
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has implemented 1991 General Accounting Office (GAO) recommendations to establish steering committees with State and local representation in all High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA's).
Abstract
For fiscal years 1990 through 1992, Congress provided the ONDCP with $193 million to assist drug enforcement efforts in specific geographic areas designated as HIDTA's. In 1991, GAO recommended that ONDCP require the establishment of local HIDTA steering committees with State and local members. GAO also recommended that agencies receiving HIDTA funds establish performance milestones and measurable goals for HIDTA-funded initiatives, as well as output measures to evaluate progress. All HIDTA's now have local steering committees, and State and local representatives are generally satisfied with the roles they have played in planning and making operational decisions about fiscal year 1992 programs. Full collaboration, however, has yet to be achieved in the New York HIDTA. Despite the establishment of a steering committee, the New York City Police Department has indicated it was not adequately represented in the planning process and key funding decisions. A GAO review of 1992 funding proposals has shown that they provide some information about the results of ongoing programs. Most, however, lack a discussion of specific goals and expected results. Planning guidance of ONDCP for 1993 indicates the need for statistics, such as drug seizures and arrests, to serve as the first stage in measuring effectiveness. Difficulties in the receipt of HIDTA funds by State and local law enforcement officials persist, although State and local satisfaction with the HIDTA program has been generally good. Selected results from five HIDTA's in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and the Southwest border are provided in an appendix.