U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Drug Market Initiative Implementation Guide and Lessons Learned

NCJ Number
250832
Author(s)
Natalie Kroov and Hipple; Edmund F. McGarrell
Date Published
March 2012
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the features, implementation, effectiveness, and lessons of the drug market initiatives conducted by North Carolina's High Point Police Department (HPPD).
Abstract
Preliminary results of the evaluation of the High Point West End Drug Market Initiative (DMI) indicate that it contributed to statistically significant reductions in violent crime and drug-related crimes in the West End of High Point. Rather than focusing on individual drug users and sellers, the DMI developed by the HPPD has focused on shutting down drug markets. The DMI has four intertwined goals: 1) eliminating open-air drug markets; 2) returning the neighborhood to the residents; 3) reducing crime and disorder; and 4) improving the public's safety and quality of life. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and other local officials focus on the arrest and prosecution of the chronic and violent offenders while offering second chances and social support to lower level participants in the drug market. As the drug market is dismantled in a targeted neigthborhood, community leaders urge residents to seize control of public areas for activities that improve the quality of life that nurtures positive influences and development of youth at risk of joining gangs. This implementation and lessons-learned guide is organized into nine basic steps for implementing a DMI similar to that of the HPPD. Four steps involve targeting the drug market through crime mapping, a survey, incident review, and undercover operations. The fifth step is to mobilize the community for participation in efforts to change the use of public spaces to improve the quality of life of residents. The four remaining steps address efforts to identify and monitor chronic and violent offenders in the community, informing them that their actions are under constant scrutiny and any offense will be met with swift and severe sanctions. 15 references