NCJ Number
146220
Date Published
1990
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This project examined the relationship between street-level heroin enforcement and the frequency of nondrug crimes and looked at the effect of intensive street-level drug enforcement programs on police-community relations. Data set archived by the NIJ Data Resources Program at the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, located at URL http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/nacjd.
Abstract
Thirty cities in Massachusetts located near three drug enforcement areas were compared on crime rates for various nondrug crimes. In two cities, Lynn and Lawrence, the police had initiated intensive programs focused on street-level heroin dealers. These cities employed task force tactics related to surveillance and questioning of both known and suspected drug sellers and buyers, informants supplying information about retail-level activities, search warrants, limited undercover investigations, and a telephone hotline for informants to provide tips on drug buys (participants, locations, and times). Information on nondrug crimes was gathered for periods before, during, and after street-level drug enforcement programs between 1980 and 1986. Data were also collected on resident opinions in three cities. Although data resulting from the analysis are tabulated separately, a data completeness and consistency report and a codebook are included. Supplemental information on study variables is contained in three appendixes. 1 reference and 19 tables