How to solve my community issueBreaking the cycle of Narcotics Use/Distribution

Presented By: Jeremy Nichols

The Problem

Ubiquitous Narcotics Use / Distribution

Cat and Mouse

• Criminal networks are very sensitive to policing efforts and they constantly adapt their tactics.

• They will seek out new distribution methods, opportunities and technologies that will facilitate their criminal interests.

• Law enforcement agencies need to constantly monitor the environment and be able to anticipate and respond to changes in the methods used by criminal networks.

Cat and Mouse

• There is a known correlation between illicit drug use and other crimes.

• The core focus for police is to reduce the supply of narcotics but the challenge is that agencies are often forced to rely on old tools and techniques.

• Effective systems are required to provide reliable intelligence led operations and maximize the impact on high level illicit drug distribution, particularly focusing upon organized crime networks who maintain control of the neighborhoods in which they operate

Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse

Prevention•  The most promising route to effective

strategies for the prevention of adolescent alcohol and other drug problems is through a risk-focused approach.

• Study results suggest that stimulant therapy in childhood is associated with a reduction in the risk for subsequent drug and alcohol use disorders.

Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention.for substance abuse prevention.

Hawkins, J. David; Catalano, Richard F.; Miller, Janet Y.Hawkins, J. David; Catalano, Richard F.; Miller, Janet Y.

Psychological Bulletin, Vol 112(1), Jul 1992, 64-105. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 112(1), Jul 1992, 64-105. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.64doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.64

PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 1 January 1, 2003 PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 1 January 1, 2003

pp. 179 -185 pp. 179 -185

(doi: 10.1542/peds.111.1.179)(doi: 10.1542/peds.111.1.179)

Substance Abuse

Cause• Demographic characteristics are

strong predictors of substance abuse, with gender, age, race, and socioeconomic status being most important. 

Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Prevalence of Substance Abuse in Schizophrenia: Demographic and Clinical Correlates.Demographic and Clinical Correlates.

Mueser, Kim T.; Yarnold, Paul R.; Levinson, Douglas F.; Singh, Mueser, Kim T.; Yarnold, Paul R.; Levinson, Douglas F.; Singh, Hardeep; Bellack, Alan S.; Kee, Kimmy; Morrison, Randall L.; Hardeep; Bellack, Alan S.; Kee, Kimmy; Morrison, Randall L.; Yadalam, Kashinath G.Yadalam, Kashinath G.

Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol 16(1), 1990, 31-56.Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol 16(1), 1990, 31-56.

Trafficking

• Well, your first call most likely would be meaningless. If you called 911, they'd say it wasn't an emergency.

• If you called your local police station, they probably wouldn't have the manpower to seriously pursue your information.

• Most squad cars on the street are "radio police," meaning they respond only to the 911 dispatcher. Not even their district commander can pull them off 911 duty to check into your complaint.

Trafficking

• Even if you get past the stated initial frustrations, you're going to have a hard time closing down your neighborhood dope house.

• Let's say you and a group of like-minded neighbors are able to get a meeting with your local police commander, and he promises to check out your complaint.

• In practice, this often means uniformed police will cruise down your street, stopping some of the likely offenders for a not-so-friendly chat. If they can't scare the bad guys away, and you keep complaining, they might stage a bust. And that will usually slow up a well-organized drug dealer for a couple of days couple of days at most.

The Solution

• Created in 1983, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is a state agency dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice.

• Statutory responsibilities of the Authority fit into four areas: grants administration; research and analysis; policy and planning; and information systems and technology.

The Solution

• ICJIA - Knowing that money is tight at the Cook County Board the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, which distributes federal moneys for law enforcement, can be contacted and a proposal for a grant to hire new attorneys and staff specialized in gang drug trafficking prosecution.

• Community organizing – In 1990 drawn from four block clubs, CUFS (Citizens United for Safety) was formed by concerned citizens impacted by narcotics distribution in their community.• The committee decided to study the whole network of law enforcement: the

local police station, the state's attorney's office, the central police department's assets-forfeiture unit, the corporation counsel, and the city's departments of housing and inspectional services.

The Solution

• The first meeting of the CUFS task force, a wondrous thing occurred. Dotted lines were made solid.

• The state's attorney, for instance, said he'd like to go after the owners of drug houses under nuisance-abatement laws, but his staff didn't have time to do the title searches. It turned out the Department of Inspectional Services (DIS) had them on computer. 

BittersweetThe CUFS plan is not a silver bullet for the local drug war, however. True, neighborhood “trap” houses have been cleaned up--the CUFS plan doesn't work with the corner drug dealer, who has nothing to fear from the twin hammers of

assets forfeiture and nuisance abatement.Alderman Alderman

Ed H. SmithEd H. Smith

IL Attorney General IL Attorney General Lisa MadiganLisa Madigan

Resources

Links – Substance Clinics• https://www.thewatershed.com/ - The

Watershed

• http://www.advocatehealth.com/body_nonav.cfm?id=3265&gclid=COeW0-WF0b0CFeZDMgodgzIAYg – Advocate Masonic

• http://webtest.catholiccharities.net/services/substance_abuse - Catholic Charities

Links – State/Local Agencies

• Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority