NCJ Number
169072
Date Published
Unknown
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This report advocates a balanced approach to the drug problem, one that combines law enforcement efforts with education, prevention, and treatment.
Abstract
The report is organized according to five key topics: (1) extent of the drug problem; (2) police and community responses to the drug problem; (3) current police approaches, including community policing, problem-oriented policing, and order maintenance policing; (4) drug control costs and Federal police assistance; and (5) future directions that focus on building collaboration and measuring success. The report is based on extensive interviews with police chiefs and police officers, criminologists, criminal justice management consultants, U.S. Department of Justice personnel, and community coalitions. Innovative police programs are described that emphasize the prevention of drug use or the disruption of drug transactions. In addition, cooperative measures employed by police departments and communities to develop programs that reach beyond the framework of traditional policing are discussed. Because the report indicates stand-alone programs do not provide long-term solutions to the drug problem, even though these programs may be innovative, police departments, community groups, and local government officials are encouraged to develop comprehensive, integrated approaches and to recognize prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement are necessary components of a successful drug strategy. References, tables, and figures