NCJ Number
191981
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 49 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 184-188
Date Published
October 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses law enforcement's detection, enforcement, and training efforts in the uncovering and prevention of "Raves" or all night parties.
Abstract
Raves present a significant challenge in detection and enforcement by law enforcement agencies. Raves, or all night parties with loud music and drugs, are on the increase in the United States. They typically consist of people ages 15-25 and are becoming popular in small rural towns, bringing in 1,500 to 2,000 kids. They typically start around nine in the evening and last until seven the following morning, with drug use comprising a significant component of the raves. Law enforcement have a working knowledge of the drugs of choice that ravers use; the most popular drug is MDMA or Ecstasy. Pre-planning strategies for a successful rave operation are: (1) the law enforcement agency needs to meet with the local prosecutor or district attorney's office to state their intentions; (2) the law enforcement agency needs to meet with local paramedics and ER personnel at hospitals to make them aware of the potential for large numbers of people needing treatment; (3) undercover officers must become familiar with the styles of clothing worn, style of music played, the slang names used by ravers, their actions and the way they think; (4) law enforcement must obtain the necessary manpower and equipment to work a rave operation; and (5) when a large number of drug trafficking arrests are anticipated, officers should set up a processing station to complete preliminary arrest paperwork and obtain necessary medical assistance for potential overdoses. In addition, a briefing should be conducted prior to initiating the plan. The briefing should inform officers of the target location, who is in charge of the operation, their respective assignments, the communication equipment being used, and the popular rave drugs being used.