The goal of the new task forces is to disrupt high-level drug trafficking organizations by devoting more Federal resources to the investigation and prosecution of high-level organizations and improving coordination and integration of activities of Federal investigative and prosecutive agencies for selected cases. Particularly, the task forces are to make maximum use of financial investigative techniques. Task force operations are planned and coordinated through a network of committees representing participating agencies under the general direction of the Associate Attorney General. At the national level, a working group composed of representatives of participating agencies and chaired by the Associate Attorney General formulates general policy and monitors the program. In each of the 12 regions, the U.S. attorney in the regional headquarters manages task force operations through a regional coordinating committee known as the task force coordination group. The fiscal 1983 appropriation for the task force program was $127.5 million, of which $18 million was to remain available until expended for the construction, remodeling, and equipping of detention and correctional institutions. The total staff allocation was 1,606 positions, including 1,219 agents and attorneys and 387 support staff. Regarding case selection, the program guidelines stated that the types of organizations to be targeted should include traditional organized crime groups and organizations importing, distributing, or financing large amounts of drugs. Initially, headquarters approved 260 cases from investigations already in progress at the participating agencies. Regarding program evaluation, the Justice Department is collecting data to monitor task force progress, but as of this review it had not fully designed its evaluation program. Issues particularly relevant to evaluation are the program structure and personnel distribution, the effect of task force investigations on drug trafficking organizations, and the program's impact on the supply of drugs. The appendixes contain an organization chart, the 1983 budget, and data on personnel allocations.