Governor's Task Force on Drug Abuse Statewide Strategy for Drug & Violent Crime Control
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If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON DRUG ABUSE STATEWIDE STRATEGY FOR DRUG & VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL m w Col. James B. Adams Chairman Arthur C.. Eads, / Vice Chairm'an Judge Jorge A. Solis AI Schorre Jerry P. Cunningham John M. Bott STATE OF TEXAS "terry L. Padalino OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION ~obby S. Weaver Ronald F. Ederer Travis p'; Johnson ~ - GOVERNOR WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. 124687 U.S. Department of Justice Nationallnstlt,ute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly .as recei~e? from the person or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stat~d in this document are those of the authors and do. not nec~ssarlly represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this copyrighted material has been granted by .' • ., I Texas Criminal JUstlce D1Vls~on Office of the Governor to the National Criminal Justice Reference, Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis sion of the copyright owner. Governor's Task Force on Drug Abuse Drug Policy Subcommittee 1990 Statewide Strategy for Drug and Violent Crime Control William P. Clements, Jr., Governor Rider Scott, Executive Director Criminal Justice Division, Office of the Governor p. O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711 INTRODUCTION Table of Contents Introduction to the Strategy I. Nature and Extent of the Problem • Overview ----------------------- 6 • International Smuggling _______________ 9 • Transshipment ____________________ 20 • Domestic Production 25 • End-User Distribution 36 • Analysis by Geographical Region 48 II. Current Law Enforcement Resources Available • Compliance with the National Drug Control Strategy 50 • The Texas Narcotics Control Program 56 • New Legislative Initiatives 74 • State and Local Enforcement Resources 76 • Federal Initiatives in Texas 77 III. Statewide Strategy for Drug and Violent Crime Control • 1990 Strategy Elements ____________ 81 • Program Areas Authorized for 1990 83 • Recommendations to the U.S. Congress and the Office of National Drug Control Policy ____~ ______ 84 Appendices Data Summary Forms _______________ 89 4 Notification of the Development of the Strategy ____ 109 • Matrix of Oral and Written Testimony Received 115 1990 Texas Strategy for Drug and Violent Crime Control 1 ~~~-~ ---- INTRODUCTION million of the state's citizens live. Rural areas Introduction to the that previously had no protection from illegal narcotics traffickers and manufacturers now Strategy have hope. The 188 enforcement officers, 19 prosecutors, and 57 support personnel funded through the program are focused on one thing The pervasiveness of the drug problem - making drug dealers pay. Task force op plaguing this country is unprecedented. It has erations have already led to the arrest of 13,584 invaded our communities, our workplaces, our individuals and the seizure of $714.7 million in schools and our lives. Drugs, in all of their illegal drugs and $18.4 million in profits from caustic forms, threathen the very quality of life the drug trade. that America has struggled to achieve. Noth The Texas Narcotics Control Program has ing short of a national commitment can achieve laid the groundwork necessary for further a secure future for the young people of today. progress in the war on drugs. In 1990, there In this dynamic contex, the President of the will be a significant increase in the level of United States has developed a bold new policy federal funding for this successful cooperative directive to combat the illegal drug problem in drug-control effort. The development of the this country. The National Drug Control Strat 1990 Statewide Strategy for Drug and Violent egy provides clear direction to the states and Crime Control for the allocation of this needed outlines the full participation of the federal gov infusion of federal funds takes place with the ernment in the war on drugs. In spite of frus utmost optimism that even greater inroads in trating odds, President George Bush and his the narcotics-trafficking problem in Texas can Drug Control Policy Director William Bennett be made during the next funding cycle. are providing the resolute guidance needed to However, the picture of what already has usher in a new era of coordinated and compre been achieved is clouded by the immensity of hensive federal, state, and local drug control the narcotics problem in this state. The suc efforts. cess of federal anti-drug initiatives in the Car In its two years of existence, the Texas Nar ibbean basin has forced the drug cartels to cotics Control Program has proven that pool diversify their shipment routes, and this has led ing law enforcement resources through multi to the increased use of Texas as a staging and agency, multi-jurisdictional task forces can transshipment area for cocaine, marijuana, and make a forceful difference in the offensive heroin. Domestic production of "speed" drugs against illicit drugs. The statewide program was continues unabated despite record seizures established under the direction of Governor by law enforcement agencies, and the poten William P. Clements, Jr., with the federal funds tial abuse of "ice" could equal the current crack made available by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of cocaine epidemic. Never before has a com 1986. Program management is provided by prehensive cooperative effort been more nec Rider Scott, Executive Director of the Criminal essary to rout the enemy. Justice Division of the Governor's Office. At The pages that follow detail the scope of the present time, 31 drug strike forces are active the drug problem in Texas and the current law in 171 of the 254 counties in Texas where 14 enforcement initiatives under way to fight this 2 1990 Texas Strategy for Drug and Violent Crime Control INTRODUCTION ©1990 the Washington Post Writers Group. Reprinted with permission. scourge. Governor Clements appointed a Drug wide public hearings in McAllen, Houston, Policy Subcommittee to thoroughly analyze the Arlington, and EI Paso on DecemberS,6,?, and dynamics of the narcotics and violent crime 8 respectively to allow state and local law problem in the state and recommend a law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and other enforcement response that will result in the criminal justice and concerned professionals greatest impact. This subcommittee includes the opportunity to partiCipate closely in the representatives from federal, state, and local development of the strategy. Written testimony law enforcement agencies; the U.S. and dis was also solicited, including the regional trict attorneys' offices in Texas; the judiciary; Reports on Narcotics Trafficking for the Attor and the state agency responsible for drug ney General prepared in August 1989 by the treatment efforts. Planning for the development U.S. Attorney's Office in each of the four dis of the 1990 strategy began in early November tricts in Texas. Notification of the hearings was with an advance notification to cities and law widely disseminated through publication in the enforcement officials in anticipation of the Texas Register, a statewide press release, President's signature on the appropriation acts, personal invitations to federal, state, and lo which occurred on November 21, 1989. cal law enforcement officials, governmental The Drug Policy Subcommittee held state- agency representatives, and service providers. 1990 Texas Strategy for Drug and Violent Crime Control 3 INTRODUCTION Approximately 3,000 notices were mailed by Membership of the Drug the Criminal Justice Division to ensure full par ticipation of public officials and private citizens Policy Subcommittee of the in the development of the statewide strategy Governor's Task Force on for Texas. Samples of these notifications and a complete matrix of the testimony presented Drug Abuse to the subcommittee appear as appendices to this report. Chairman Colonel James P. Adams is the This country must make every effort to retired Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, prevent the schoolchildren of today from be a position he held from January 1980 until May 1987. coming the drug offenders of tomorrow. A Colonel Adams began his distinguished career in public service as Assistant County Attorney of Limestone strengthened criminal justice system can pro County, Texas, and was subsequently elected to the vide a powerful disincentive to engage in drug Texas House of Representatives. He resigned from that activity, by ensuring swift and sure punishment office in order to accept appointment as a Special Agent for violations of the drug laws. Lawenforce of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in July 1951, where ment initiatives provide the immediate response he served over 27 years, attaining the position of Asso ciate Director, the second-highest-ranking FBI official. to the problem by removing the open drug In 1978 he was the recipient of the Attorney General's markets terrorizing neighborhoods, controlling Award for Distinguished Service, and in 1979 he was the violent crime so closely associated with the awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Serv drug trade, and thwarting the plans of the ille ice Medal by the Director of the Central Intelligence gal drug merchants as often as possible. The Agency. combined efforts of supply- and demand-reduc The Honorable Arthur C. (Cappy) Eads tion programs are absolutely necessary to is the elected District Attorney for the 27th Judicial District,