NCJ Number
234157
Date Published
July 2009
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This report describes the strategy used by the High Point Police Department (North Carolina) to eliminate drug markets in the city.
Abstract
Recognizing that drug markets destroy neighborhoods; a sense of well-being and quality of life; and contribute to crime, shootings, prostitution, assaults, and robbery; the High Point Police Department (HPPD) initially attempted typical law enforcement tactics for countering drug markets. They conducted police sweeps "buy-bust" operations, warrant service, and the arrests and jailing of drug dealers; however, the problem persisted. The HPPD then attempted a different tactic that succeeded in eliminating a notorious drug market that had persisted in spite of every countermeasure attempted. HPPD created swift and certain consequences by "banking" existing drug cases. This meant that the dealers knew to a certainty ahead of time that they faced whatever inconvenience, expense, and formal penalties their arrest would precipitate. They faced the consequences not just for the single drug transaction (or few drug transactions) to which they could be arrested at the moment, but for all transactions they might contemplate while the charge was "banked." Although they were on the street, they were not free to continue dealing unless they wanted to risk the very high probability of activating their cases. Other features of the strategy were to address racial conflict between communities and the police; set strong community and family standards against drug dealing; involve dealers' family members; and offer education, job training, job placement, and other social services. In combination, these actions resulted in the closing of the drug market. The same tactics were used to close three other drug markets in the city. After analyzing the successes in High Point, other cities across the country have used similar strategies to produce similar levels of success. 1 exhibit and 23 notes