PAST RESEARCH • DRUG MARKETS • VIOLENT CRIME • SPATIAL ANALYSIS
Illegal Marijuana and Drug Related Violent Crime in North Texas
A multidisciplinary research partnership examining illegal marijuana markets, drug distribution and their potential relationship with violent crime.
The project combined law-enforcement data, surveys and interviews, online-market information and spatial analysis to study illicit drug-market activity across North Texas.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Understanding Illegal Drug Markets and Violence
The project examined how illegal marijuana markets operated across North Texas and how illicit distribution patterns may intersect with violent crime, neighborhood conditions and regional drug-market activity.
Illegal Drug Markets
Violent Crime
North Texas
Mixed Methods
RESEARCH DESIGN
Multiple Sources. One Research Problem.
The mixed-methods design integrated agency records, survey and interview data, online-market information and spatial analysis.
01
Law-Enforcement Data
Analysis incorporated information from the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and Combined Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.
02
Postal Data
USPS-related data were incorporated to examine illicit shipments and parcel-distribution patterns.
03
Surveys & Interviews
Inmate surveys and interviews provided additional information about drug-market behavior and distribution.
04
Darkweb Data
Data collected from the Darkweb were used to examine trends within illegal marijuana markets and online distribution.
Spatial Analysis
Geographic analysis examined communities, neighborhoods and city blocks associated with drug use and parcel-shipping activity.
Mixed-Methods Integration
Multiple data sources were considered together to examine market trends and their potential relationship with violent crime.
RESEARCH APPLICATIONS
From Research to Investigative Intelligence
The study was designed to inform three areas of applied investigative and analytical practice.
01
Parcel Interdiction
Develop evidence-based investigative techniques to assist with identifying and selectively examining suspicious drug-containing parcels.
02
Digital Market Analysis
Develop digital approaches for identifying online bulk purchases that may be associated with redistribution within illegal drug markets.
03
Spatial Intelligence
Use spatial analysis to identify communities, neighborhoods and city blocks associated with drug users and drug-containing parcel shipments.
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
University–Law Enforcement Collaboration
The project brought together academic researchers and law-enforcement partners to study a complex regional crime problem using multiple data sources.
Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
Law-enforcement partner contributing to the study of illegal marijuana markets and drug-related violent crime in North Texas.
Combined Narcotics Enforcement Task Force
Regional enforcement partner supporting the research partnership and analytical investigation of illicit drug activity.
Tarleton State University
Faculty researchers contributed expertise in criminology, crime analysis, spatial methods and criminal justice research.
RESEARCH TEAM
Project Investigators
The study was led by Tarleton researchers working in partnership with regional law-enforcement agencies.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Tara O’Connor Shelley
Principal Investigator
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Olga Semukhina
Co-Principal Investigator
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Christopher Copeland
Co-Principal Investigator
FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
National Institute of Justice
Award No. 2018-75-CX-0005
This project was supported by award no. 2018-75-CX-0005, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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