GHS/595 Criminal Justice Program Proposal: Drug Trafficking

This report presents a criminal justice program proposal focused on addressing drug trafficking and border security challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border. The proposal outlines the need for an action plan to combat illegal immigration and the smuggling of narcotics. It emphasizes the importance of restructuring current practices and developing a more efficient coalition involving law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and community members. The report identifies the problem through a series of questions, emphasizing the need for data collection methodologies, including field studies and both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. It also discusses the importance of involving key players, such as law enforcement agencies, the private sector, and community members, through information sharing, cross-training, and community policing programs to enhance border security and reduce drug trafficking. The proposal highlights the vulnerabilities of the southern border, the role of drug cartels, and the need for improved strategies to combat the increasing problem, referencing relevant sources to support its findings.

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Criminal Justice Program Proposal
Frank Canini
GHS/595 Program Development and Evaluation
August 8, 2016
Dr. Duane Benton

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Introduction
The southern border along Mexico and the United States has been a prime focus of national
security. Every day, thousands of immigrants attempt to illegally enter the United States through
the southern border and expose the numerous vulnerabilities that allow many to achieve their
goal without detection. Many drug cartel groups have recognized this and use these gaps in our
national security to seize the opportunity to smuggle narcotics into the country. The U.S.
Customs and Border Protection in conjunction with state and local law enforcement are in a war
against the drug cartels and human traffickers.
The fight against narcotics smuggling along the U.S. southern border continues to present
problems for our citizens and law enforcement. Trafficking narcotics into the U.S contributes to
the even larger problems facing our society with drug abuse and gang violence. Though our
government has developed and implemented enhanced programs to reduce illegal trafficking
through the Southern Border, the opportunities are still there. It is in the best interest of our
government to review and improve current practices to effectively combat this increasing
problem.
Type of Program
Effectively fighting back against narcotics trafficking at our Southern Border requires an
action plan that attacks the root problem. Planned change will be needed to address the
increasing problem at the border and reduce drug trafficking throughout the United States.
Recognizing the need for change facilitates a set of events that will lead to a decision to revise
current practices. After a need for change is determined it is critical to determine the goals and
objectives of the proposed program.

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One of the problems with the current plan is that the amount of individuals illegally crossing
the border far exceeds the resources provided by law enforcement. Our field agents are
dangerously outnumbered and are left at a severe disadvantage when confronted with large
groups of smugglers. An action system developed by the Department of Homeland Security will
carry out the restructuring of the plan including development, implementation, evaluation, and
writing policies (Welsh & Harris, 2013). According to the case-study, the local coalition to
combat narcotics trafficking only contains six members to carry out field operation, share
information, and collect data. My intervention plan will target this team to develop a more
efficient and resourceful coalition that will prove its invaluable efforts to effectively curb the
drug trafficking problem in South Texas.
Processes to Identify the Problem
It has long been known that the vulnerabilities along the southern border have plagued our
national security for decades. There are several questions the observer must ask when attempting
to identify the problem:
Answer the following questions:
1. Who is the decision maker in this case, and what is their position and responsibilities?
2. What appears to be the issue (of concern, problem, challenge, or opportunity) and its
significance for the organization?
3. Why has the issue arisen and why is the decision maker involved now?
4. When does the decision maker have to decide, resolve, act or dispose of the issue?
What is the urgency to the situation? (Introduction to Business, 2006).
Data Collection Methodologies

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Field studies are an essential part of identifying problem areas and developing prevention
strategies to mitigate the issue. A field study is a general method for collecting data about users,
user needs, and product requirements that involves observation and interviewing (Field Study,
n.d.). A qualitive evaluation allows the observer to answer how and why individuals commit
certain acts, or crimes in this case. It allows for the observer to gather data from a cluster of
similar events and analyze that information to identify patterns. Qualitive information is
gathered through observations, interviews, and case studies. Quantitive information gathers
information through the use of surveys, tests, databases, and statistics (Quantitive & Qualitive,
n.d.)
There is a quite a bit of necessary information that must be collected to commence with the
development of an effective border security plan. Officials will want to know the hotspots that
individuals frequently use the most as their pipeline into the country. What are the methods used
to breach the border and of what percentage of illegal migrants detained have been found to be
drug smugglers? Officials will also want to know once the drugs enter the country through South
Texas, where do the narcotics travel?
Ways to Involve Key Players
Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, national security has undergone a major facelift and now
places heavy emphasis on information sharing. In the last 15 years, law enforcement across all
levels have partnered with the private sector to promote a safe society. These organizations have
the resources to share information, cross-train, and provide valuable assistance to one another.
Programs that allow for safety and security summits, presentations, and other programs that
afford the opportunity to have some face time with the other agencies helps involve the key
players. Citizens and active members of society also need to be involved and take on an active

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role as well. Community policing programs help to motivate members of the community to
become actively engaged in community policing while also building a trust with local law
enforcement.

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References
Field Study. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usabilitybok.org/field-study
Introduction to Business. (2006). Retrieved from
http://plato.acadiau.ca/courses/Busi/IntroBus/CASEMETHOD.html
Quantitive & Qualitive Evaluation Methods. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.civicpartnerships.org/#!quantitative--qualitative-eval-methods/c1bel
Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2013). Criminal justice policy & planning (4th ed.). Waltham,
MA: Elsevier.