An Evaluation of Seattle’s Drug Market Initiatives

• In Event: Policy Panel: "Research for the Real World" in Seattle: Establishing a Community of Research and Practice

Abstract

In recent years, much attention has been placed on drug issues in Seattle, Washington. In an attempt to address concerns about open-air drug markets and associated violence and disorder, city criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders have implemented a number of evidence-based strategies, including the Drug Market Initiative (DMI) program first popularized in High Point, NC. The Seattle DMI is a multi-agency effort aimed at reducing drug issues by deterring street-level drug activity and diverting drug involved people to appropriate services. Since 2009, the initiative has been adopted and implemented within three target sites, often along with varying degrees of agency participation and involvement. This evaluation examines each of the DMI efforts and analyzes the impact of the DMI strategies on a number of outcomes, including reductions in crime and disorder. We make a number of research and practitioner-oriented recommendations for future DMI efforts.

Authors

• Julie Hibdon, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• Cody Telep, Arizona State University