The Spatial-Temporal Pattern of Policing Following a Drug Policy Reform: Triangulating Self-Reported Arrests With Official Crime Statistics

ABSTRACT

Background: In 2009, Mexico enacted a drug policy reform (Narcomenudeo) designed to divert persons possessing small amounts of illicit drugs to treatment rather than incarceration. To assess reform impact, this study examines the spatial-temporal trends of drug-related policing in Tijuana, Mexico post-enactment. Method: Location of self-reported arrests (N = 1,160) among a prospective, community-recruited cohort of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana (N = 552) was mapped across city neighborhoods. Official police reports detailing drug-related arrests was triangulated with PWID self-reported arrests. Exploratory spatial data analysis examined the distribution of arrests and spatial association between both datasets across three successive years, 2011–2013. Results: In 2011, over half of PWID reported being detained but not officially charged with a criminal offense; in 2013, 90% of arrests led to criminal charges. Official drug-related arrests increased by 67.8% (p <.01) from 2011 to 2013 despite overall arrest rates remaining stable throughout Tijuana. For each successive year, we identified a high degree of spatial association between the location of self-reported and official arrests (p <.05). Conclusion: Two independent data sources suggest that intensity of drug law enforcement had risen in Tijuana despite the promulgation of a public health-oriented drug policy reform. The highest concentrations of arrests were in areas traditionally characterized by higher rates of drug crime. High correlation between self-reported and official arrest data underscores opportunities for future research on the role of policing as a structural determinant of public health.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug policy
• police
• drug laws
• spatial-temporal analysis
• Mexico

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors along are responsible for the content and writing of the article. Mr. Alaniz and Dr. Vilalta are participating in this research of their own capacity. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health, Canadian Institute of Health, Fogarty International, the Tijuana Municipal Police Department or the Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economica.

Funding

This research was supported by NIDA grants K01DA034523, R37 DA019829, R01DA028692, DP2 DA040256-01; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research MOP-79297; and the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number D43TW008633.