| The policies and practices of law enforcement agencies have the potential to positively or negatively affect how a multitude of public health issues are handled in communities. Examples of social problems in which law enforcement and public health interests intersect include alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug control; domestic violence; traffic safety; and sexual abuse. Data from a 1999 telephone survey of 160 local law enforcement agencies (including both police and sheriff's departments) in 10 states are used to investigate agency practices with respect to enforcement of alcohol and tobacco age of sale and purchase/possession laws. Departments that conduct compliance checks of local merchants to determine compliance with alcohol age-of-sale laws are also likely to conduct tobacco compliance checks as well as "Cops in Shops" operations focused on alcohol purchase attempts by underage persons. These results are interpreted in the context of external pressures from, and alliances with, public health agencies as well as the "bureaucratic routines" of local law enforcement agencies. |
Updated 05/20/2006