NCJ Number
178309
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 7 Dated: July 1999 Pages: 56-58
Date Published
July 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines the financial impact of drug interdiction over interstate highways on one small jurisdiction and on taxpayers.
Abstract
Rockwall County, the smallest county in Texas, straddles the Interstate 30 corridor which feeds the heavy drug traffic out of Texas. The county has the moral responsibility for interdiction of drugs over the interstate, but law enforcement is not making a dent in drug trafficking. Both law enforcement authorities and the community consider that local money should not be spent fighting a national problem. While the local antidrug task force has federal support, prosecutors and courts that deal with these cases are locally funded. The County's felony caseload is 70 percent drug-related cases, 40 percent direct drug cases resulting from interdiction efforts. The County has funding for one full-time and one part-time prosecutor to handle its entire criminal docket. In addition to the proper role for local, state and federal funding, the County must deal with personnel assignments. At issue is what, if any, responsibilities should fall to city police, the sheriff's office and state troopers.