Behavioral Indicators of Drug Carrying in Open Spaces.

摘要

Law enforcement personnel rely on a variety of behavior to identify persons carrying illegal drugs in open spaces. The purpose of this report is to identify and describe these behavioral indicators based on input from a variety of criminal justice practitioners. The behaviors include those displayed by individuals carrying drugs in their natural environment, during drug transactions, and when approached by law enforcement. We identified ten general categories of behaviors associated with the carrying of illegal narcotics. These categories include: general behaviors, situational awareness behaviors, physiological response to stress, dissipatory actions, dissociation, preparatory actions, streetcraft, dealer and buyer interaction, mouth carrying behaviors, and cheek and anal cavity carrying. These, and similar behaviors, are used throughout the United States to facilitate the identification of people carrying illegal drugs. Further research assessing the reliability and validity of the behaviors identified in this report are necessary.