NCJ Number
58358
Journal
DRUG ENFORCEMENT Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 13-16
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE CALIFORNIA NARCOTIC INFORMATION NETWORK (CNIN) IS AN ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO ASSIST LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL NARCOTICS AGENCIES BY COORDINATING DRUG ENFORCEMENT. ITS STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION OF CALIFORNIA HAVE MADE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR THE OPERATIONS OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS. PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CNIN, NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WERE UNABLE, AS SEPARATE JURISDICTIONAL UNITS, TO COLLECT, EVALUATE, ANALYZE, AND PROPERLY DISSEMINATE INFORMATION DIRECTLY RELATED TO NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT. CNIN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1973 TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE GOAL OF CNIN IS TO ACT AS THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY OF NARCOTICS INTELLIGENCE AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE STATE'S ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. AS OF THE EARLY PART OF 1977, CNIN SERVED 275 LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT MEMBER AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA, REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND A NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE MEMBER AGENCIES FROM EIGHT NEIGHBORING STATES. PRIMARY SERVICES OF CNIN ARE (1) A CENTRAL SUBJECT CARD FILE OF MAJOR CRIMINAL NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUG VIOLATORS, (2) PUBLICATION OF A MONTHLY DIGEST AND SPECIAL NARCOTICS INTELLIGENCE BULLETINS WHICH REPORT ON CHANGES AND TRENDS IN ALL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE MARKETING OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS, (3) ASSISTANCE BY CNIN'S ANALYTICAL STAFF IN COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS, (4) PROVISION TO MEMBER AGENCIES OF CONTACT WITH NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT UNITS THROUGHOUT THE NATION, (5) THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL ANALYTICAL STUDIES ON TOPICAL NARCOTICS PROBLEMS IN THE STATE, AND (6) THE PROVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF FORMS FOR NARCOTICS OFFICERS. THE OPERATIONAL FORM AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CNIN HAS BEEN SUCH THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED AS A MODEL NARCOTICS INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD EASILY BE ADOPTED BY NARCOTICS UNITS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. (RCB)