NCJ Number
143193
Date Published
1992
Length
192 pages
Annotation
The Washington State Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Task Force undertook a comprehensive evaluation to assess past performance, identify statewide and local task force structure, and delineate areas of potential improvement. The three-phase evaluation design consisted of a mail-in survey of all task forces, on-site interviews with select task force personnel, and analysis of task force performance indicators.
Abstract
The findings showed that the drug enforcement task forces have successfully reduced the amounts of drugs on the streets, secured assets from drug dealers, coordinated activities of heretofore competing agencies, and targeted mid- and upper- level drug distributors and manufacturers. However, the data also indicate that the drug network is highly resilient and can respond fairly easily to interdiction efforts, that certain key task force personnel are not participating, that forfeiture amounts have fallen short of expected levels, and that task forces are under pressure to respond to local political influences. A great deal of variability exists in the composition and structure of the task forces; in some cases, investigation and enforcement resources are inadequate. Operational recommendations presented here focus on effective prosecution, training, and resources. 68 tables, 24 figures, and 18 references