Law Enforcement and
NEPs:
Building Bridges
NASEC X
April 27 - 29, 2000
Portland, Oregon
NASEC X
CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Project Overview: Needle
Exchange Programs: Getting Out
the Facts and Promoting
Collaboration Between Law
Enforcement and Public Health
The Center for Innovative Public Policies,
Inc. - funded by a grant from the Henry
J. Kaiser Family Foundation
March 1999 - March 2001
NASEC X
CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Goals: At the end of the
project . . .
Increase the information available to the
law enforcement community
Promote meaningful dialogue on the issue
Bring together local public health and law
enforcement officials
Highlight “what works” in local
communities
NASEC X
CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Objectives:
Conduct a literature review;
Conduct site visits;
Identify programs successfully involving
NEPs and law enforcement;
Conduct outreach and educational
programs with law enforcement
membership organizations - 3 workshops;
&
Develop three papers for publication for
law enforcement. NASEC X
CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Why this project:
Law enforcement opposition;
Law enforcement ambivalence;
Common ground - community health;
Understanding needed by both sides of
the issues;
NEPs are a local issue;
Need for information sharing; and
Acknowledge the issues on both sides.
NASEC X
CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Common theme heard from
public health officials. . . .
If THEY only knew and
understood the facts and data,
THEY would support NEPs. Let
me show/tell THEM the studies
and THEY will change THEIR
minds.
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Findings to Date:
Law enforcement literature does not
include:
current information about HIV/AIDS
prevention, syringe exchange, paraphernalia
laws and impact on blood borne pathogens;
reports of current studies;
relevance of studies to police (so what?);
reports of successful collaborations between
police/public health; and
reasons to support NEPs.
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Law enforcement is willing to talk about
NEPs;
High national visibility of the NEP issue
has resulted in “taking sides”;
NEPs and HIV/AIDS prevention are public
health issues, so go talk to . . . ;
NEPs are viewed as inconsistent with
national drug control policy;
NEPs are for inner cities;
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Others in the criminal justice system are
key players;
There are better uses of fiscal and other
resources;
USPHS - IDUs use sterile needles;
Sale of syringes is now considered a
legitimate purpose . . .
Treatment is the better response; and
There is lack of community support.
NASEC X
CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Membership Organizations
International Association of Chiefs of
Police (IACP)
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
National Organization of Black Law
Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
+ state chapters and organizations
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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What does this mean for
NEPs?
How to engage local police in discussions;
What makes police change their minds;
Coalition building;
Building trust;
Mutual best interests and face-saving; &
Identifying your police decision-making
model.
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Law enforcement “buttons” what influences policy and
decision-making?
Their boss(es) - who is the leader?
The mayor
The commission/council
The public - whose agenda?
The media - how will the chief/sheriff be
perceived - soft on crime?
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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The officers and/or the union;
Relationship between the chief/sheriff and
the head of public health;
Relationship with community leaders,
religious leaders, other elected officials;
Personally held beliefs and personal
experiences; and
Relevant data and information.
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Organizational Behavior:
Survival:
safety of officers and the community
including needle sticks and danger of discarded
needles
balancing often competing priorities and
interests with scarce resources
scanning
Role Models:
Behavior at the bottom conforms to behavior
at the top
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Promote and Preserve Image:
external - media, public, elected officials
internal - strong, effective leadership,crime
fighters
preserve community values
Change is difficult for individuals and the
organization - myths and mystique (too much
TV)
Isolation vs. collaboration - community policing
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Initiating discussions;
Rational best interests;
Identifying those with influence;
Starting small with issues of trust, give added
value to the organization;
Identifying the personality of your local police;
hierarchy
decision making process
key players and gate keepers
input process
relationship with the community
relationship with “the bosses”
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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history on other similar issues
mission and priorities
needs
participation in other coalitions
Identify common ground
Prepare for “ups” and “downs” in the
relationship
Communicate
Feedback from both sides
Orient NEP staff
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Feedback and Questions:
What has worked?
What hasn’t worked?
Questions about law enforcement decision
making processes?
Ideas for improvement?
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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Center for Innovative Public Policies, Inc.
7913 NW 83rd Street
Tamarac, Florida 33321-1727
954 726 5322
Fax 954 721 0492
Email: smcc7913@aol.com
Website: CIPP.org
Susan W. McCampbell
Paula N. Rubin
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CIPP April 27 - 29, 2000
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