Organizing Law Enforcement as Well as Organized Crime

• NCJ Number: 100282
• Journal: Public Administration Review Volume: 45 Dated: special issue (November 1985) Pages: 712-717
• Author(s): Anonymous
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-100276.

Annotation

One of the principal architects of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) surveys the history of Federal drug enforcement and analyzes the process through which the Government developed the OCDETF program.

Abstract

Following a review of the Federal Government's responses to the drug law enforcement from 1915 through the 1970's, the author describes the Reagan administration's early efforts to deal with a soaring drug problem. Areas addressed include the Drug Enforcement Administration-FBI reorganization, establishment of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committees, and the South Florida Task Force. The latter demonstrated the need for more resources and an umbrella structure embracing all agencies with drug enforcement jurisdiction and expertise. The author discusses organizational lessons learned from previous Federal efforts to develop a national enforcement network. Also examined are the structure of the OCDETF and key issues that faced planners, such as whether there should be a lead agency and the role of the U.S. attorney. The case of United States v. Badalamente illustrates the OCDETF's effectiveness.