Chapter 10 - Community Policing and Drugs

Abstract

Publisher Summary The chapter explores the services that community policing can offer in solving the drug problem. The Police and the Criminal justice system have responded to drugs with a tough, aggressive response, however, it does not appear that this response has had much of an impact on the problem. The drug problem results in mounting frustration within the society. This frustration has led to a continuation of the same old draconian solutions. Another problem with traditional methods of controlling drugs is that they erode cherished civil rights. The courts on a number of occasions have rendered decisions that substantially limit or reduce citizens' rights. Community policing offers an approach to the drug and crime problems. Community policing is more than the weed-and-seed programs. The programs are designed to couple enforcement with community building. The history has proven that the police are not being successful in ridding society of drug and crime problems by focusing singularly on enforcement; the police also must be actively involved in community building.