Ensuring Law Enforcement Has the Tools to Combat Dangerous Drugs
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The prompt for this round of the FEDforum is: In what way has your organization impacted the federal workforce/law enforcement community? National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA).
Eddie Alvarez | The Washington Post
One of NAAUSA’s primary missions is to ensure federal prosecutors have the tools to keep our nation safe. The recent overdose epidemic has required all aspects of public safety and health to work together to combat the proliferation of illegal drugs and addiction. NAAUSA has impacted the federal law enforcement community by informing Congress about the tools law enforcement needs to combat drug trafficking and related crimes.
For example, while NAAUSA did not take a position on legislation regarding federal sentencing for crack and powder cocaine, NAAUSA testified before a Senate Committee in June to inform lawmakers about the differences law enforcement sees between crack and powder cocaine offenses. NAAUSA provided Congress information about criminogenic characteristics of crack offenders including associated violence and recidivism statistics. NAAUSA also informed Congress about the resource burdens retroactive reviews cause for U.S. Attorney Offices, and provided alternative solutions to lowering crack cocaine sentences.
Ultimately, NAAUSA’s goal was not to tell Congress how to write laws, but ensure Congress writes laws with an awareness of how these laws impact the law enforcement community and our ability to combat drug use and trafficking.
Recently, NAAUSA has been engaged with various Congressional committees in the fight against fentanyl. Fentanyl and fentanyl related substances are causing death at an unprecedented level.
In 2020 alone, the CDC reports nearly 100,000 people died of drug overdoses–up 30 percent from the previous year with fentanyl and FRS being a primary driver. The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics finds that fentanyl is a factor in 53 percent of drug overdose deaths. Last year, cities across the country reported sharp increases in drugs laced with fentanyl, causing overdose deaths in unsuspecting victims. And just last month, a superintendent confirmed a vaping device found at an Iowa high school contained both THC and fentanyl.
The rapid development of fentanyl related substances has complicated the enforcement of our drug laws. Increasingly, drug traffickers are making slight alterations to fentanyl in an attempt to evade severe criminal penalties. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Administration is aware of 34 fentanyl related substances.
Without effective tools in the law to prosecute those who traffic these dangerous substances, law enforcement is hamstrung in our ability to keep our communities safe from these drugs.
For this reason, NAAUSA has been working to secure permanent class wide scheduling of fentanyl related substances. NAAUSA has also worked to educate Congress on the necessary role of statutory mandatory minimums in prosecuting drug trafficking offenders.
NAAUSA educates Congress on what law enforcement needs to properly prosecute drug trafficking offenders in order to enhance law enforcement’s capacity to do their job. NAAUSA and many other law enforcement organization’s advocacy on this issue led Congress to extend the temporary class wide scheduling order on fentanyl related substances in appropriations legislation last week.
In serving as a resource for Congress to hear the perspective and needs of law enforcement, NAAUSA impacts the community by ensuring laws are written correctly and attainably.
This column from National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA) is part of the FEDforum, an initiative to unite voices across the federal community. The FEDforum is a space for federal employee and law enforcement groups to share their organizations’ initiatives and activities with the FEDagent audience.
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