A Case Study of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force

Abstract

Although the implementation of multijurisdictional task forces has increased during the past two decades, relatively little empirical attention has been paid to these organizations within the scholarly literature. In general, task forces allow local law enforcement agencies access to increased resources. Also, task forces allow agencies to circumvent jurisdictional issues that may arise. In observing this phenomenon, the present study focuses on the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), specifically its operations in Youngstown, Ohio. The study is conducted along two general paths. Descriptive data on the volume and type of cases handled by the NOVFTF were gathered from the United States Marshals Service, and interviews were conducted with officers and administrators involved with the NOVFTF. These interviews gathered information about the respondents' views on the task force's effectiveness, interagency cooperation, training, and media response. As a descriptive case study, the article offers policy implications stemming from the NOVFTF and avenues for further research.