Illegal Marijuana and Drug Related Violent Crime in North Texas
PI: Tara O’Connor Shelley; Co-PIs: Olga Semukhina, Christopher Copeland
This study examines illegal marijuana markets and drug-related violent crime in North Texas and involves a partnership between the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarrant County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and faculty in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Public Administration at Tarleton State University.
The study examines illegal marijuana markets and drug-related violent crime in North Texas using a mixed methods research design involving analysis of data from TCSO, CNET, USPS, inmate surveys and interviews, and data collected from the Darkweb to analyze illegal marijuana market trends and the potential relationship with violent crime.
Study results will be used to develop: (1) evidenced based investigative techniques to intercept drug-containing parcels (e.g. a suspicious package profile that allows selective examination of marijuana shipments); (2) digital methods to identify online bulk purchases for redistribution; and (3) spatial analysis to identify communities/neighborhoods/city blocks where drug users are more likely to reside and ship their drug-containing parcels.
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, or conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.