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America's Drug Strategy: Rejecting Retreat, Moving Forward

NCJ Number
154679
Author(s)
J R Biden Jr
Date Published
1995
Length
159 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the provisions of the 1994 Crime Law that reflect the current Federal drug policy and identifies the key challenges ahead in implementing this policy.
Abstract
Under the Crime Law, Federal dollars are already being sent to State and local law enforcement, with the aim of putting 100,000 more police officers in communities to fight the street- level drug trade through the proven tactics of community policing. The Crime Law also provides enough Drug Court funding to require drug-abusing probationers to enter drug treatment as a condition of probation. This will be enforced by mandatory, random drug testing and certain sanctions for failure. Focusing on the 900,000 treatable hardcore addicts, the Crime Law increases Federal funding for their drug treatment, as funds are provided for the treatment of an additional 350,000 inmates. Also under the Crime Law, "safe havens" will be provided for hundreds of thousands of children in the form of after-school programs. Drug-use prevention is supported under the Crime Law through funds for drug education and prevention programs for children and youth. Finally, the Crime Law provides increased authority for the Drug Director, thus enhancing the coordination of the multipronged effort required to address the drug problem. Appended overview of antidrug resources and the dates and witnesses at various related hearings