HIGHLIGHTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SUMMIT CONFERENCE
THE HOOVER INSTITUTION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, MAY 9, MAY 10, 1995
prepared by Joseph D. McNamara
May 16, 1995
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* 50 Top law enforcement officials attended. Twenty six were police
chiefs, (Some jurisdictions use the term commissioner or director.)
Three sheriffs attended and two Chief Probation Officers. The remaining
participants were either command officers or retired police chiefs
still active in law enforcement.
* 90% of those who completed an evaluation form (N38) at the end of the
conference did not support the War on Drugs!
* All who completed the evaluation believed that more treatment,
prevention and education efforts would be more likely to reduce drug
abuse than more arrests and prison sentences.
* All thirty-eight respondents endorsed the appointment of a Blue Ribbon
Commission to evaluate the Drug War and to study alternative methods to
control drugs.
Perhaps the most striking indication of the importance of this conference
was that 35 of the 38 respondents stated that the conference had changed
their view of the drug war. (18 Slightly, 17 significantly.)
All of the evaluators found the conference worthwhile and would be willing
to attend another such conference. They were also unanimous in asking to be
on a mailing list for articles and information concerning drug enforcement
issues.
Some sample comments:
* "Gave time to reflect on the history, [of drug enforcement] the present
condition, and the future. ...useful to have program repeated so others
could attend."
* "The materials provided and prescriptions given by very credible
individuals certainly have caused me to remove my blinders and step off
the drug war bandwagon to review and analyze this complex issue more
objectively."
* "It [the conference] gave a public airing of some of my private
thoughts on drug policy."
* "...drug substance abuse is a health problem and not a crime problem.
...others need to be part of it [analyzing drug control.]"
* "Very Informative. ...real change will occur from and by the
community."
* "Profound discussion about the issue from more than one perspective. I
still think we need the social hammer that says that they're [drug
users and dealers] wrong."
* "While I had some intuitive sense of the potential alternative to our
current policies, I don't think that I really had an overall
understanding of how destructive the "war on drugs" has been on our
youth, especially in our minority communities."
* "It [the conference] clarified and helped crystallize concepts I had
been struggling with in law enforcement for some time. The analogy to
Vietnam and the drug war is a good one. Law enforcement has been put in
a position of fighting a war they are not allowed to win - nor can they
win."
* "The viewpoints/data expressed by the various speakers caused me to
examine the issue from an aspect I never had before."
* "Many of the problems that I am experiencing in my city have been
validated [in this conference] with the same problems in other cities.
The networking, new ideas by respected members of the profession were
very provocative. It is the inner city black on black violence that is
the issue for me. We certainly have not been successful for a long
while fighting the "Drug War." It's time to keep an open mind and
rethink the issues."
* "I am intrigued by the concepts of harm reduction and making it a
health, rather than criminal problem."
* "[I am] already aware of shortcomings of prohibition."
* "[You should] set up and hold similar sessions for rank and file
officers and for community representatives."
* "I agree that alternatives must be explored and more dialogue and
discussion are necessary for progress. This conference has opened my
mind to listen and discuss this issue."
* "[The conference] made me consider casual users in addition to people
who get placed on probation..."
* "It [the conference] really made me think about what we do as a law
enforcement community. Excellent conference. Thank you for inviting
me."
* "[The conference] assisted me in better articulating my position
supporting change in our approach. Have subsequent meetings such as
this one."
* "I have agreed with the positions discussed but I now may be more
willing to be more public about it. Schedule a followup session."
* "It provided time to stop and think about what we are doing and the
possible alternatives to it."
* "I had already come to the conclusion that the Drug War was a failure
and that it has damaged our country. We need alternatives."
* "[The conference] broadened my view of different aspects of drug
policy. ...need to be addressed: 1. The failure of our prison systems
to rehabilitate. 2. The failure of the medical community to come with
viable programs for drug treatment."
* "Like most police officers I know how drugs have ruined lives and
broken up families. Strict enforcement does not eliminate drug use, the
demand is too great!"
* "It [the conference] only reaffirmed what I already believed, that we
need to change our approach. we must have the courage to try and effect
a positive change!"
* "It [the conference] gave me a broader perspective on the adverse
impact of the W.O.D., esp. as to guns and violence."
* "Speakers presented a very reasonable and well thought out selection of
options. ...police have become a clearing house for societal ills. We
must be responsible and promote that [community] guidance."
* "This is the first time I've heard other law enforcement teachers talk
about changing what we do in law enforcement with respect to drug
enforcement. I have felt more preventive efforts were needed for many
years but have been concerned about stating it publicly. We don't need
more cops and jails!!"
* "New data was presented that warrants further study and further
discussion."
* "New viewpoints. Different discussion of options."
* "Presentation of much valuable information."
* "On drugs: We have not won. We are not winning. We will not win using
current strategies."
* "exposed to new ideas and new information"
* "Good information. The compelling thoughts that this is a medical
problem that law enforcement is being asked to fix. If we focused more
on the effects of behavior that drug abuse engenders (as with drunk
driving) we might have more success in making our cities safer."
* "I came prepared to be skeptical, unconvinced that there was practical
purpose for me at this conference. In fact, I was concerned that by
attending it would appear that I had adopted a sympathy towards drug
decriminalization. ...I am most impressed with the caliber and
intelligence of the speakers. I have not been exposed to what I
expected an extremist point of view. Instead, the approaches are and
have been deliberate and rational. I am interested in further
development."
* "[The conference was an] opportunity to focus very specifically on this
issue with well founded information. It's clear we have to change this
approach. Like Prohibition it is not working."
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