NCJ Number
154326
Date Published
1991
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A Joint State/City Task Force on Drugs and Violence was funded by the Anti-Drug Abuse and System Improvement Act formula grant program to reduce violent crime in Boston, especially gun crime.
Abstract
Fundamental task force goals were to remove targeted individuals from the street, to increase the certainty of punishment, and to prevent further crime. The task force focused on gang members and violent fugitives. Five basic strategies were employed by the task force to achieve its goals: (1) prioritize warrants; (2) coordinate State and city efforts; (3) use a Violent Fugitive Arrest Squad; (4) monitor results; and (5) ensure flexibility of action. The task force was evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative data on reductions in the backlog of Bartley-Fox gun carrying default warrants, reductions in gang violence, and incapacitation of violent fugitives. The evaluation found that several task force goals were met. Cooperation between State, county, and city criminal justice agencies helped remove serious offenders from the streets. Almost all Bartley-Fox gun carrying violators were located, arrested, found guilty, and incarcerated. Further, several gang members on the priority list and many targeted violent fugitives were arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated. Recommendations to guide future task forces involving State and local government agencies are offered.