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
Criminal reactions to drug-using offenders: A systematic review of the effect of treatment and/or punishment on reduction of drug use and/or criminal recidivism
The association between substance use and crime is very common, but complex. Several countries have found strategies to face drug abuse and criminality that may exist associated to it, seeking to reduce overcrowded prisons and to promote...
NIJ’s Multisite Evaluation of Prosecutor‑Led Diversion Programs: Strategies, Impacts, and Cost‑Effectiveness
Executive Summary In recent years, a growing number of prosecutors have established pretrial diversion programs, either pre-filing—before charges are filed with the court—or post-filing—after the court process begins but before a...
Use of the Sequential Intercept Model as an Approach to Decriminalization of People With Serious Mental Illness
The Sequential Intercept Model provides a conceptual framework forc ommunities to use when considering the interface between the criminal justice and mental health systems as they address concerns about criminalization of people with mental...
Common mental disorders and associated factors among Ethiopian prisoners: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Common mental disorders are a major public health concern in the world and negatively influence people’s psychological, physical, economic, and overall well-being. Since prisoners live with restricted freedom and lack regular...
Substance use disorders in prisoners: an updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis in recently incarcerated men and women
Abstract Aims The aims were to (1) estimate the prevalence of alcohol and drug use disorders in prisoners on reception to prison and (2) estimate and test sources of between study heterogeneity. Methods Studies reporting the 12-month...
Global Estimates of the Prevalence of Depression among Prisoners: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Background. Prison populations tend to be marginalized and disadvantaged of the rights and freedoms that other people in the community benefit from. Their separation from families, a narrow room and lack of privacy in the prison, violence...
Indicators of Mental Health Problems Reported by Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011–12
About 1 in 7 state and federal prisoners (14%) and 1 in 4 jail inmates (26%) reported experiences that met the threshold for serious psychological distress (SPD) in the 30 days prior to a survey conducted between February 2011 and May 2012...
Severe mental illness and substance use disorders in prisoners in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence studies
Summary Background Although more than two thirds of the world's incarcerated individuals are based in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), the burden of psychiatric disorders in this population is not known. This review provides...
The prevalence of comorbid serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders in prison populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Summary Background Comorbid mental illnesses and substance use disorders are associated with adverse criminal, social, and health outcomes. Yet, their burden is not reliably known among prison populations. We therefore aimed to estimate the...
Prevalence of severe mental illness among people in prison across 43 countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Summary Background Prison populations have been increasing worldwide. Previous studies suggest that there is a high burden of psychiatric morbidity in people in prison, but, to our knowledge, the last published meta-analysis of prevalence...