Proactive Targeting of Major Drug Offenders (From International Drug Trafficking, P 159-169, 1988, Dennis Rowe, ed. -- See NCJ-117642)

• NCJ Number: 117655
• Author(s): E J Spurlock
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. A paper presented at the Second Annual Symposium on Criminal Justice Issues, August 23-26, 1987, Chicago, Ill.

Annotation

This paper describes the organization and operations of the District of Columbia's Repeat Offender Project (ROP), which identifies, arrests, and prosecutes high-rate offenders. A prerequisite for targeting a person is the assessment that the subject is committing five or more part I offenses weekly. Four methods are used to catch repeat offenders: investigation, surveillance, infiltration, and information exchange. Investigation involves the development of background information on the target and the target's network of associates and family. Infiltration involves undercover work and the use of informants and may involve buying drugs from the target or creating the image of being a drug dealer. Surveillance is used selectively since it can deplete resources and burn out personnel. All possible sources of information, not just the target, may be subjects for surveillance. Information that may have a bearing on the target is monitored, including the police radio channel that covers the area where the target lives. This paper lists investigative procedures used by ROP to identify repeat offenders and outlines measures and techniques which underlie ROP's effectiveness.