Improving Community Safety through the Apprehension of Drug-related Offenders

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The Maricopa County Adult probation Department’s fugitive Apprehension Unit (FAU) sought to increase their effectiveness and keep up with the demand for the apprehension of probation absconders (probationers with warrants). Because the unit was barely able to keep up with the monthly demand, the prioritization of apprehension efforts was limited to serious felony offenders and/or violent offenders. The prioritization of those efforts excluded already existing warrants and offenders with drug offenses. Additionally, given the sharp downturn in the economy and severe cutbacks, the Maricopa County Adult probation Department was desperate to find ways to retain staff. The Southwest Border Grant allowed the Adult Probation Department to enhance community safety by locating and arresting drug offenders, and at the same time, allowed for the retention of five Surveillance Officer Positions that would have been otherwise lost. Additionally, this project has resulted in the arrest of over 1,400 drug-related absconders.