NCJ Number
92768
Date Published
1983
Length
61 pages
Annotation
The Senate subcommittee considering additional appropriations to combat drug trafficking through 12 regional task forces heard officials from New York State, New York City, and Federal agencies describe New York City's severe drug problems and suggest countermeasures.
Abstract
A U.S. Senator for New York State highlighted the magnitude of drug trafficking in the United States, its relation to crime, and the inability of law enforcement agencies to stop more than 5 to 15 percent of the drug traffic because of inadequacies in resources, laws, and the judicial system. The criminal justice coordinator for New York City cited statistics to demonstrate that most arrests in drug interdiction cases are low-level traffickers who spend no more than 1 year in jail. He also praised the New York City Police's efforts, but emphasized the need for Federal funds and improved coordination among Federal, State, and city law enforcement agencies. The New York Special Narcotics Prosecutor for New York City also discussed the city's drug problems, focusing on arrests, indictments, dismissals, seizures, and the day-to-day operations of the city's Lower East Side Project. The supervisor of this project, which has four prosecutors funded by a special grant to handle approximately 25 percent of all Manhattan's drug cases, provided additional data on arrests, indictments, and prosecutions. Both witnesses cited the critical needs for more jail and prison space, changes in bail practices, rehabilitation programs, additional U.S. attorneys, improved interagency coordination, and more judges and court terms to reduce the narcotics case backlog. Representatives from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Customs Service, the Coast Guard, and the Drug Enforcement Administration reviewed their activities in New York City. Areas addressed included the National Narcotics Board Interdiction System, heroin addiction, private industry efforts, mechanical means to detect heroin, drug smuggling methods, and intelligence programs.