{"id":756,"date":"2022-05-02T19:22:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T19:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.tarleton.edu\/crimeanalysis\/?page_id=756"},"modified":"2026-08-27T19:20:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T19:20:16","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Past Research Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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PAST RESEARCH \u2022 DRUG MARKETS \u2022 VIOLENT CRIME \u2022 SPATIAL ANALYSIS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illegal Marijuana and Drug Related Violent Crime in North Texas<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A multidisciplinary research partnership examining illegal marijuana markets, drug distribution and their potential relationship with violent crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project combined law-enforcement data, surveys and interviews, online-market information and spatial analysis to study illicit drug-market activity across North Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore the Project \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\u2190 Institute Home<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mortar and pestle with crushed pills on black background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Project Overview<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Design<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Applications<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Team<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Funding<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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RESEARCH FOCUS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Illegal Drug Markets and Violence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Illegal Drug Markets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Violent Crime<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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North Texas<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mixed Methods<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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RESEARCH DESIGN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple Sources. One Research Problem.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mixed-methods design integrated agency records, survey and interview data, online-market information and spatial analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Law-Enforcement Data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Analysis incorporated information from the Tarrant County Sheriff\u2019s Office and Combined Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postal Data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

USPS-related data were incorporated to examine illicit shipments and parcel-distribution patterns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surveys & Interviews<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inmate surveys and interviews provided additional information about drug-market behavior and distribution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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04<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darkweb Data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Data collected from the Darkweb were used to examine trends within illegal marijuana markets and online distribution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Spatial Analysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Geographic analysis examined communities, neighborhoods and city blocks associated with drug use and parcel-shipping activity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mixed-Methods Integration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Multiple data sources were considered together to examine market trends and their potential relationship with violent crime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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RESEARCH APPLICATIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Research to Investigative Intelligence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The study was designed to inform three areas of applied investigative and analytical practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parcel Interdiction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Develop evidence-based investigative techniques to assist with identifying and selectively examining suspicious drug-containing parcels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Market Analysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Develop digital approaches for identifying online bulk purchases that may be associated with redistribution within illegal drug markets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spatial Intelligence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use spatial analysis to identify communities, neighborhoods and city blocks associated with drug users and drug-containing parcel shipments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

University\u2013Law Enforcement Collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The project brought together academic researchers and law-enforcement partners to study a complex regional crime problem using multiple data sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tarrant County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Law-enforcement partner contributing to the study of illegal marijuana markets and drug-related violent crime in North Texas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Combined Narcotics Enforcement Task Force<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Regional enforcement partner supporting the research partnership and analytical investigation of illicit drug activity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tarleton State University<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Faculty researchers contributed expertise in criminology, crime analysis, spatial methods and criminal justice research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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RESEARCH TEAM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Investigators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The study was led by Tarleton researchers working in partnership with regional law-enforcement agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Tara O\u2019Connor Shelley<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Principal Investigator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Olga Semukhina<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Co-Principal Investigator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Christopher Copeland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Co-Principal Investigator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Institute of Justice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Award No. 2018-75-CX-0005<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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CONTINUE EXPLORING<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore Current Institute Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visit the Institute home page to explore current projects involving human mobility, synthetic spatial crime data, drone and satellite imagery, spatial criminology and emerging technology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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View Current Research \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAST RESEARCH \u2022 DRUG MARKETS \u2022 VIOLENT CRIME \u2022 SPATIAL ANALYSIS Illegal Marijuana and Drug Related Violent Crime in North Texas A multidisciplinary research partnership examining illegal marijuana markets, drug …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":779,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"functions-assets\/subsite-hero-page-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-756","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/author\/brian-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3\/","display_name":"brian"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 weeks ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on May 2, 2022","modified":"Updated on August 27, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on May 2, 2022 7:22 pm","modified":"Updated on August 27, 2026 7:20 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"Mortar and pestle with crushed pills on black background.","featured_img":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2022\/08\/drugs-1568x1045.jpg","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=756"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":992,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/756\/revisions\/992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}