The activities of authorised agencies such as police, customs, border services, and investigative bodies to enforce drug control laws and address criminal activities related to the production, trafficking, and distribution of illicit substances. These activities may include investigations, intelligence gathering, interdiction, and collaboration with national and international partners to disrupt organised crime networks. Law enforcement plays an important role in protecting public safety and maintaining the rule of law, and is most effective when coordinated with broader public health, prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts as part of a balanced and comprehensive response to substance use.
Law Enforcement
Evidence-based treatment and supervision practices for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders in the criminal justice system.
ABSTRACT Background: Over seven million persons in the United States are supervised by the criminal justice system, including many who have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (CODs). This population is at high risk for...
A meta‐analytic review of the efficacy of psychological treatments for violent offenders in correctional and forensic mental health settings.
Abstract This meta‐analysis examined whether psychological treatments with adult violent offenders in correctional and forensic mental health settings are effective in preventing community recidivism and institutional (hospital/prison)...
Effectiveness of psychological interventions in prison to reduce recidivism: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Summary Background Repeat offending, also known as criminal recidivism, in people released from prison has remained high over many decades. To address this, psychological treatments have been increasingly used in criminal justice settings...
Evidence-based treatment and supervision practices for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders in the criminal justice system.
Abstract Background: Over seven million persons in the United States are supervised by the criminal justice system, including many who have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (CODs). This population is at high risk for...
Seattle’s law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD): Program effects on criminal justice and legal system utilization and costs.
Abstract Objectives We evaluated a prebooking law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD) program (i.e., initial diversion from the criminal justice system paired with harm-reduction case management and legal assistance to individuals with...
Seeking Safety for women in incarceration: a systematic review
ABSTRACT Purpose Seeking Safety is an evidence-based treatment for individuals with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. This treatment shows promise to address the unique, unmet needs of women in prison. The...
Law enforcement-led, pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment may reduce crime recidivism, incarceration, and overdose deaths: Program evaluation outcomes.
Abstract Introduction: Substance use disorder (SUD), overdose, and drug use-related crime continue to increase in the U.S. Pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment programs may decrease crime recidivism and overdose deaths. We assessed the impact...
Evaluating Seeking Safety for Women in Prison: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness of Seeking Safety on depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with incarcerated women. Method: A randomized controlled trial ( N = 40) was used to analyze Seeking Safety...
A multi-site evaluation of law enforcement deflection in the United States.
Many law enforcement and other first responder agencies have adopted deflection as a front-line response to the increasing number of drug overdoses and deaths in the United States over the past two decades. Deflection programs aim to...
Peer support on the “inside and outside”: building lives and reducing recidivism for people with mental illness returning from jail.
Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to gain understanding about the effectiveness of a forensic peer support program’s impact on reducing criminal recidivism. People with histories of mental illness returning to the community...