F B I Law Enforcement Bulletin

United States Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, DC 20535-0001

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Battling DUI By Jeffrey W. Greene	Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols provide law enforcement agencies with two powerful ways to curb drunk driving incidents.
The Business Police Academy By Giant Abutalebi Aryani, Carl L. Alsabrook, and Terry D. Garrett	Agencies can implement business police academies to help companies become more aware of potential criminal activities and to reduce crimes against them.
U.S. Immigration Inspectors By Gene M. Soper	U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service personnel act as ambassadors, as well as law enforcers, in their effort to protect America’s borders.
Warrantless Interception of Communications By Richard G. Schott	Criminal investigators must understand when, where, and why subjects’ conversations may be legally intercepted and recorded.

Since September 11, 2001, drunk drivers have killed more people than actually died on that day. Not to take away from the tragedy of September 11, but drunk driving deaths are happening every day in America.¹

For many years, the law enforcement community has attempted to detect impaired drivers through numerous innovative efforts and measures. The problem of driving under the influence (DUI) is well known throughout society, yet, even with all of the strategies used to remove these drivers from U.S. highways, it continues to cause needless and tragic loss of life each year. When will such madness end? When will society no longer tolerate drunk driving? Until that time, the law enforcement community must attempt to contain the carnage inflicted upon law-abiding citizens by impaired drivers.²Law enforcement has two basic methods of dealing with the DUI problem—sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols. Sobriety checkpoints have existed for several years and have served as a deterrent to drunk driving across many communities. Although not the most aggressive method of removing impaired drivers from America’s roadways, these checkpoints comprise one piece of public awareness and education relevant to the drinking and driving dilemma.

Saturation patrols, on the other hand, constitute a vigorous tactic employed by law enforcement agencies to significantly impact an area known for a high concentration of alcohol-impaired drivers. Law enforcement agencies have used saturation patrols much longer than checkpoints, sometimes under a different name or no name at all. Which method offers the best use of law enforcement’s limited resources? The choice depends upon many issues, such as funding, resource allocations, and targeted areas.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 16,653 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2000, an increase of more than 800 deaths from 1999. This represented the largest percentage increase on record.³ By some estimates, about two out of every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.⁴ These tragic statistics dramatically illustrate that DUI is a serious problem.

Research has indicated, however, that most impaired drivers never get arrested. Police stop some drivers, but often miss signs of impairment.⁵ Estimates revealed that as many as 2,000 alcohol-impaired driving trips occur for every arrest, and, even when special drinking-driving enforcement patrols are conducted, as many as 300 trips occur for each arrest. Because the police cannot catch all offenders, the success of alcohol-impaired driving laws depends on deterring potential offenders by creating the public perception that apprehension and punishment of offenders is probable. Research also has shown that the likelihood of apprehension is more important in deterring offenders than the severity of punishment.⁶ Therefore, enforcement is the key to creating the perception of a possibility of capture, while publicizing these efforts can effect a real threat of detainment.

Sobriety checkpoint programs are defined as procedures in which law enforcement officers restrict traffic flow in a designated, specific location so they can check drivers for signs of alcohol impairment. If officers detect any type of incapacitation based upon their observations, they can perform additional testing, such as field sobriety or breath analysis tests.⁷ To this end, agencies using checkpoints must have a written policy as a directive for their officers to follow.

Agencies normally choose locations for checkpoints from areas that statistically reveal a large number of alcohol-related crashes or offenses. Officers stop vehicles based on traffic flow, staffing, and overall safety. They must stop vehicles in an arbitrary sequence, whether they stop all vehicles or a specified portion of them. Checkpoints offer a visible enforcement method intended to deter potential offenders, as well as to apprehend impaired drivers. Agencies should set up checkpoints frequently, over extended periods, and publicize them well.

Staff Lieutenant Greene serves with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Wilmington.

Sobriety checkpoints must display warning signs to approaching motorists. Also, they normally will provide opportunities for drivers to actually avoid the checkpoint, usually with an alternate route that a driver could divert to after passing the checkpoint warning signs. Agencies typically post an officer in a marked cruiser at each end of the checkpoint. These officers can observe the driving behavior of those who choose to avoid the checkpoint.

Used to deter drinking and driving, sobriety checkpoints are related more directly to educating the public and encouraging designated drivers, rather than actually apprehending impaired drivers. Typically, sobriety checkpoints do not yield a large volume of DUI arrests. Instead, they offer authorities an educational tool. Education and awareness serve as a significant part of deterrence. Frequent use of checkpoints and aggressive media coverage can create a convincing threat in people’s minds that officers will apprehend impaired drivers—a key to general deterrence. In addition, public opinion polls have indicated that 70 to 80 percent of Americans surveyed favored the increased use of sobriety checkpoints as an effective law enforcement tool to combat impaired driving.⁸

Saturation patrols involve an increased enforcement effort targeting a specific geographic area to identify and arrest impaired drivers. This area always is much larger than the location chosen for a sobriety checkpoint. However, site selection proves vital in both sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrol initiatives. Some states require documentation as to why a specific location was chosen. Selected sites should have a statistically high incidence of DUI crashes or fatalities and take into account officer and motorist safety.

Saturation patrols concentrate their enforcement on impaired driving behaviors, such as left of center, following too closely, reckless driving, aggressive driving, and speeding. Multiple agencies often combine and concentrate their resources to conduct saturation patrols. Therefore, planning represents a vital part of these efforts. All involved parties should participate in the planning phase, furnishing their specific views and concerns.

Saturation patrols may afford a more effective means of detecting repeat offenders, who are likely to avoid detection at sobriety checkpoints. These patrols also may more effectively impact a specific geographic location with a history of a high number of alcohol-related crashes. They must enhance people’s perceptions of being detected to be effective. Therefore, saturation patrols require the same intense media attention as sobriety checkpoints. In addition, prosecutors and judges must support saturation patrols. These efforts also must remain ongoing, not merely a onetime operation, to produce successful results, the same as with sobriety checkpoint programs.

Statistics compiled by two agencies, similar in size and area of responsibility, offer an overview of the scope of the DUI problem.⁹ In 2000, the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted 58 sobriety checkpoints and arrested 323 drivers for DUI. The Ohio State Highway Patrol carried out 12 sobriety checkpoints and arrested 77 drivers for DUI. In 2001, Missouri effected 67 sobriety checkpoints and arrested 318 drivers for DUI. Ohio implemented 19 sobriety checkpoints and arrested 126 drivers for DUI. Since 1989, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has participated in 156 sobriety checkpoints and arrested 807 drivers for DUI.

In the past 2 years, the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted 822 saturation patrol operations, arresting 1,666 drivers for DUI. The Ohio State Highway Patrol performs saturation patrols on a regular basis across the state. The agency arrests an average of 25,000 DUI drivers per year through all DUI-related operations.

In another example, from 1994 to 1995, Tennessee, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, implemented a statewide campaign completing nearly 900 sobriety checkpoints. Law enforcement agencies conducted these in all 95 counties in Tennessee in just over 1 year. The checkpoint program was highly publicized and conducted basically every week. The evaluation of the program revealed it as highly favorable in reducing the number of alcohol-related fatal crashes. Although the program only netted 773 arrests for DUI, the deterrent factor created by the continuous use of the checkpoints and the media attention received resulted in the program’s success.¹⁰What do these statistics convey? Basically, Missouri averaged about five DUI arrests per checkpoint, Ohio averaged less than seven DUI arrests per checkpoint, and Tennessee’s aggressive checkpoint program averaged less than one DUI arrest per checkpoint.¹¹What these figures do not show is the number of impaired drivers deterred by the operations, either through sobriety checkpoints or saturation patrols. Those statistics never will be clearly identified, but any lives saved by such efforts are worth the effort and resources allocated.

What also is not accounted for in these statistics is the additional number of other enforcement actions taken, such as safety belt, commercial vehicle, and child safety seat arrests; speeding violations; warnings for various traffic infractions or vehicle defects; and motorist assists. Detecting such additional violations is more probable during saturation patrols, as opposed to sobriety checkpoints. This alone could represent another measure of effectiveness of saturation patrols.

Overall, measured in arrests per hour, a dedicated saturation patrol is the most effective method of apprehending offenders. Such concerted efforts also may serve as a general deterrence if their activities are publicized and become widely known.

Critics have pointed out that sobriety checkpoints produce fewer arrests per hour than dedicated patrols, but some studies show arrest rates can be increased greatly when police employ passive alcohol sensors (i.e., devices that can measure the alcohol content in the air, which officers can use while talking to a motorist passing through the checkpoint) to help detect drinking drivers. However, focusing on arrests is a misleading way to consider the value of checkpoints. The purpose of frequent checkpoints is to increase public awareness and deter potential offenders, resulting in the ideal situation where very few offenders are left to apprehend.

Sobriety checkpoint programs in Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Virginia have led to a reduction in alcohol-related crashes. In 1995, North Carolina conducted a statewide enforcement and publicity campaign aimed at impaired drivers. The campaign was deemed a success, indicating “drivers with blood alcohol levels at or above 0.08 percent declined from 198 per 10,000 before the program to 90 per 10,000 after the intensive 3-week alcohol-impaired publicity and enforcement campaign.”¹²

Is public awareness and education important? The key aspect in both sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols rests with public awareness. The perception of a higher risk of detection for driving under the influence of alcohol may deter more people from driving after drinking. The more the public understands the issues and severity of the consequences, the better they will accept drunk driving as a problem and will embrace a crusade to reduce occurrences. Indeed, agencies must have public support to succeed.

All law enforcement agencies must accept that the media plays a vital role in combating impaired drivers. They must use all outlets possible to spread the word about this needless tragedy that happens every day. All media entities are looking for stories. By working closely with them, agencies can get the message out about the dangers of drunk driving. The sooner agencies realize the importance of the media, the sooner they will gain a valuable ally in their fight. Agencies can garner a great deal of support from the public when they speak out on this vital issue.

Are stricter laws and sanctions working? Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have reduced their blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold to .08 percent from .10 percent in another effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes. The federal government also has adopted the standard of .08 percent BAC, encouraging states to change to .08 percent. In 2003, states that have not adopted the .08 percent standard will lose millions of federal dollars for road construction. Currently, 22 states have the BAC threshold of .10 percent, Ohio included. Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control indicated, on average, that states adopting .08 percent have reduced crash deaths involving alcohol by 7 percent.¹³

Administrative license suspension laws continue to become more aggressive, attempting to create a stronger deterrent environment. Estimates have indicated that they reduce driver involvement in fatal crashes by about 9 percent.¹⁴ Some laws providing for the suspension or revocation of licenses have indicated a reduction in the subsequent crash involvement of those drivers who previously have been convicted of an alcohol-related offense. Although it is known that many suspended drivers continue to drive, they tend to drive less and possibly more carefully, attempting to avoid detection.

While many conclusions can be drawn from an analysis of sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, both serve a significant purpose and, used together, can be effective in reducing the number of impaired drivers. Law enforcement agencies may find that only one of these works for them, depending upon resources. Others may determine a combination of both is needed to successfully combat the problem in their communities. Regardless of the selected method, it remains essential to identify the specific keys to removing more impaired drivers from U.S. highways, including—

implementing an aggressive, continuous, and committed media effort;
continuing efforts by legislatures and courts in an attempt to consistently punish violators and deter impaired driving; and
identifying problem areas, high-level crash locations, and large volumes of impaired drivers.

It is proven that saturation efforts will bring more DUI arrests than sobriety checkpoints. If that represents an agency’s goal and it has the resources, then it should use saturation patrols. If an agency’s goal weighs heavier on the educational side, it should use sobriety checkpoints. If an agency should choose to use checkpoints over saturation patrols, the evidence is clear that infrequent use is not effective. So, an agency must consider the cost incurred with the frequent use of sobriety checkpoints. Resources (time and money) may greatly affect an agency’s decision regarding which method to employ.

If an agency’s goal is to reduce the number of impaired drivers over time, it should use both sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as any other available methods. The bottom line is to do something —do everything—to remove impaired drivers from America’s highways.

Conclusion
Law enforcement agencies should not accept mediocrity in the area of driving under the influence enforcement. It is not a societal
problem. It is everyone’s problem, and no one should take it lightly. More people die or are injured on this nation’s highways due to impaired driving than from all other causes combined. It is unacceptable, and all Americans pay a price, whether personal, financial, or professional.

Law enforcement agencies must take up the challenge and employ every available weapon to combat this deadly threat. This is a
“mission possible.” Through better education, increased awareness, and some strict penalties, the battle can be won. Working in collaboration with one another, the public, the law enforcement community, and the judicial system can help prevent the needless loss of life that results from drunk driving. “When people are knocked away one at a time, it doesn’t make the headlines like it should, but we’ve got to make Americans realize the fact that it’s still the number one killer, and it’s 100 percent preventable. This is one thing that we can all work together to do something about.”¹⁵

Endnotes
1 Millie I. Webb, former national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), quoted in “Advocates Seek to Rejuvenate Fight Against Drunk Driving,” Criminal Justice Funding Report (Arlington, VA: Capitol City Publishers, July 3, 2002), 4-5.
2 The author based this article on research he conducted and a paper he composed for a course while attending Northwestern University, School of Police Staff and Command.
3 Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Statistics and Resources; retrieved on January 20, 2002, from http://www.madd.org.
4 Ohio State Highway Patrol, “Sobriety Checkpoints,” Monthly News Article (2001); retrieved on January 20, 2002, from http://
www.state.oh.us/ohiostatepatrol/enforce/sobch.html.
5 Dekalb County, Georgia, Police Department, Strategic Traffic Accident Reduction Team Report: Deterrence and Enforcement;
retrieved on January 22, 2002, from http://www.cyberlinkexchange.usww.com/homepages/starteam/dui-qu.htlm.
6 Ibid.
7 Paul Blowers and Jack Stuster, National Commission Against Drunk Driving, Experimental Evaluation of Sobriety Checkpoint
Programs (1995); retrieved on January 20, 2002, from http://www.ncadd.com/tsra/abstracts/035.html.
8 Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Sobriety Checkpoints: Facts and Myths; retrieved on January 20, 2002, from http://www.madd.org/madd_programs/0,1056,1229,00.html.
9 For all Missouri statistics, see Robert Stieffermann, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Progress on Strategic Planning Priorities-
Statistics, February 11, 2002. For all Ohio statistics, see Ohio State Highway Patrol, Office of Field Operations, Sobriety Checkpoint Statistics, January 23, 2002.
10 Fell, Jones, and Lacey, National Commission Against Drunk Driving, The Effectiveness of the “Checkpoint Tennessee”
Program (1996); retrieved on January 20, 2002, from http://www.ncadd.com/tsra/abstracts/043/html.
11 Supra notes 9 and 10.
12 Supra note 5.
13 J.C. Fell, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Status Report (Arlington, VA, June 2001), 6.
14 Supra note 5.
15 Supra note 1.

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An amnesty box is a sealed container positioned immediately before a metal detector or search checkpoint that allows individuals to discard any item of contraband inside it without fear of detection or arrest. The military and international airports have used this concept for decades. Could this concept work in social events where large numbers of people in attendance present a security challenge? Such events as sports competitions, concerts, and graduations traditionally draw large audiences and create any number of possible security issues. These may manifest as threats, assaults, or simply the possession and use of paraphernalia considered contraband. In light of recent tragedies, the law enforcement community may want to extend the use of the amnesty box concept into other areas and make it an integral part of physical security measures.

In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist activities, additional security measures have sprung up nationwide. As a result, many libertarians fear that civil rights will erode. Consequently, one feature of physical security, amnesty boxes, may make these intrusions more palatable for civil rights advocates while, at the same time, providing additional safety for those attending special events. In addition to reducing the level of intrusiveness of those being screened, amnesty boxes also can lessen the risk to law enforcement and contract security officers working checkpoints by providing guilty individuals with a nonconfrontational option to diffuse their impending detection.

In response to the recent terrorist attacks and the potential for further reprisals, the University of Central Florida (UCF) and its police department (UCFPD) went on alert. The heightened concern for security increased when intelligence reports indicated that further violent acts would occur at a concert to be held on the UCF campus on September 29, 2001. The intelligence gathered included death threats against law enforcement officers. To reduce the likelihood of related or unrelated violent acts, the university and its police department implemented an amnesty box program as an additional physical security measure at the concert.

In implementing the program, the UCF and the UCFPD examined the environment in which the

amnesty boxes were to be located and conducted a risk analysis. They considered several factors in the amnesty box placement. Initially, they conducted a risk assessment of the environment focusing on access to the main auditorium. Next, they examined existing barriers and discussed inserting additional ones. Also, they studied previous incidents at the venue to determine potential problems for future events.

A narcotics detector canine swept the area 4 hours before the concert to locate contraband that anyone might have hidden around the arena. Although none was found, a noticeable effect occurred on those loitering in the area. A sweep by an explosive detector canine was proposed but rejected due to availability.

Cost
The initial startup costs were less than $100. The bulk of the expenses went for sign construction; the signs, however, are reusable
and not cost recurring. To offset these initial costs, program “buy in” included the sponsoring event participants who appreciated
the added security interest on their behalf and purchased the signs for the department. The signs measured 30" x 30," made
from white ¢ª-inch poster board with black and red warning letters 2 ¢ª" x 4" in size. Sign attachments would vary according to the containers in use. The signs can be placed directly on the containers, on walls at eye level, or on plastic stands. The department did not use metal stands because they could become potential weapons in the hands of unruly patrons.

Other materials used during the project included 30-gallon plastic trash containers with swing-type lids. Again, plastic is preferable to metal in the event that the container becomes a weapon. The department taped the lids to the base of the containers to prohibit
removal or tampering. The depth of the container prevented anyone from reaching in to remove articles. The department placed shredded paper at the bottom of the containers to absorb liquids poured into the boxes and to minimize the shock to any loaded
firearm dropped inside. A digital or video camera aided in documenting the articles recovered from the boxes. Miscellaneous items used included tape, rubber gloves, evidence collection items, paper towels, hand disinfectant, and a tarp.

Placement
The police department placed the amnesty boxes at four locations near the highly visible main, and only, entrance to the arena. Large signs were posted directly behind the boxes. Additional signs were located at the perimeter of the main entrance indicating
that authorities would search attendees at the entrance to the arena. As patrons moved closer to the search area, they passed a
final “last chance” amnesty box.

Observations
With the amnesty boxes in place, both uniform and plainclothes officers observed them. In several instances, patrons passed the boxes and, upon observing the security searches at the entrance, either returned to their cars or deposited items in the amnesty boxes.

Additionally, patrons attempted to conceal items of contraband, including cameras, immediately behind or in the vicinity of the amnesty boxes, presumably for later retrieval. Conducting area searches before and after the event proves important,
especially with repeated amnesty box placement at a facility. Individuals may attempt to place contraband within the area prior to the event, thus defeating any type of precautionary search.

Outcomes
Once the flow of patrons to the concert ceased, UCFPD officers collected the amnesty boxes and transported them to a safe, secure area located out in the open to prevent any cave-in type of destruction should explosive devices be present in the boxes. The officers used a tarp to spread the contents of the boxes. After examining the contents, officers placed some items into property and discarded others. An inventory of seized items included 24 disposable cameras, 4 small sealed bottles of liquor, 3 folding lock-blade knives, 3 cigars containing marijuana, 2 packages of rolling papers, 2 small plastic bags of marijuana, 1 marijuana pipe, 1 fake Florida drivers license, numerous open containers of alcoholic beverages, and several objects containing marijuana residue.

• Identify suitable containers to be used
• Conduct security sweep of event location to identify potential issues
• Implement sweep by narcotics and explosives detector canine
• Obtain evidence-collection supplies Amnesty Box Checklist

Overall, the university and its police department observed several benefits from implementing the amnesty box concept at the concert. First, with patrons not in possession of contraband when officers searched them at the arena entrance, the likelihood of arrest decreased. Thus, the criminal justice system benefitted as persons did not enter it, thereby alleviating the potential strain on resources. Also, the added safety and the presence of the amnesty boxes as a security measure may have served as a deterrent effect, although such an effect certainly would merit further research to validate this observation.

Finally, the amnesty boxes increased law enforcement’s visibility at the concert. They allowed the police department the ability to engage in a venture that reduced criminality and increased visibility with no negative aspects. In short, this effort was akin to community-policing initiatives that attempt to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system by minimizing arrests.

In this time of increased vigilance for the security of all Americans, the law enforcement community needs to explore all available avenues of ensuring the public’s safety. In some instances, amnesty boxes can provide an ideal, low-cost complement for a security plan.

The University of Central Florida and its police department found these devices helpful during a concert held on campus shortly after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The amnesty boxes related directly to the “funneling effect” of the crowd, which eliminated individuals from bringing contraband items into the arena or concealing such materials within the area for later recovery. The amnesty boxes reduced confrontations between officers and patrons carrying contraband. Because patrons have the opportunity to discard such items, a buffer forms giving citizens who may, in times of intrusions to civil liberties, be concerned with their rights. However, examination of the boxes at the earliest appropriate time provides additional intelligence on the attendees with possible intrusive motivations. All in all, the university found the amnesty box concept ideally suited to the challenge of providing security at a highly popular special event.

Mr. Mesloh, a former law enforcement officer and canine handler and trainer, currently is the administrative services coordinator at the University of Central Florida Police Department in Orlando and is pursuing a Ph.D. in public affairs. Mr Henych is a Ph.D. student and instructor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Lieutenant Mingo serves with the University of Central Florida Police Department in Orlando and as an adjunct instructor in criminal justice at the university.

During the past two decades, many law enforcement agencies successfully have implemented citizen police academies (CPAs) for the mutual benefit of their departments and the communities they serve. Building on this success, another innovative community policing program, the business police academy (BPA), has emerged. BPAs’ benefits to law enforcement agencies and business communities clearly outweigh the costs of their implementation and operation. Although information on how to implement and operate a BPA is not as readily available as material on a CPA, the concepts are similar. Agencies can apply the experience and lessons learned from CPAs to BPAs in their communities.

The BPA, a cooperative educational effort teaming law enforcement and the business community, represents a different version of a CPA. A BPA strives to ensure a productive exchange of information between businesses and law enforcement, which leads to an increased awareness of potential criminal activity and, as a result, to a reduction in crimes against businesses.¹

The implementation of a BPA follows the same steps as beginning a CPA.² Nonetheless, the BPA differs in three major areas: the targeted audience, the curriculum, and the instructors.

The targeted audience for a BPA is the business community within the respective jurisdiction. Unlike the CPA, where students ideally represent a cross section of the community, the BPA only includes students who are members of the business arena, such as owners, managers, and employees. It encompasses all commercial enterprises, such as retail stores, banks, restaurants, garages, and office complexes.

BPA students should live or work within the particular jurisdiction, be at least 21 years of age, and maintain a good standing in the community. Agencies should disqualify applicants with prior felony convictions. They should select students from various types of businesses for the first BPA class, which will ensure maximum publicity and help in future BPA recruitment as well. Agencies should accommodate business needs, such as location and schedule of classes and, at the end of the academy, hold a graduation ceremony for graduates’ families, agency administrators, city or county officials, representatives from the local chamber of commerce, and officials from volunteer organizations. Agencies should encourage graduates to display their graduation certificates at their places of business to promote publicity for the BPA.³ A positive educational experience for business representatives benefits both the agency and the business community.

A CPA provides students with a basic overview of diverse law enforcement topics.⁴ On the other hand, a BPA seeks to reduce crimes against businesses; therefore, the curriculum should cover, in-depth, topics specific to the business community.⁵ Crimes covered include those commonly committed against businesses, as well as related information for understanding and responding to them. Lectures should include demonstrations, facility tours, role-plays, and simulations, when appropriate. Videos, slides, audio cassettes, overheads, and posters serve as additional tools to aid in the learning experience. Instructors should relay first-hand experiences and allow enough time for questions, which sustains the cooperative atmosphere. They should stress the cost of the respective types of crimes against businesses and how to alleviate it. This emphasis serves the business community’s interest of reducing the cost of running a business, and it keeps the audience attentive.

Giant Abutalebi Aryani, School of Social Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, is an instructor in the City of Rockwall Business Police Academy.

Sergeant Carl L. Alsabrook, Community Services Unit, City of Rockwall, Texas, Police Department is the coordinator of the City of Rockwall Business Police Academy.

Lieutenant Terry D. Garrett, Uniformed Services Division, City of Rockwall, Texas, Police Department serves as an instructor in the City of Rockwall Business Police Academy.

A BPA requires a program coordinator with program management tasks similar to a CPA’s. However, the majority of CPA instructors work for the hosting police department and introduce their students to that agency’s officers.⁶This may not prove the same with a BPA, especially with small and midsize agencies. The nature and depth of the covered classes require agencies to recruit expert individuals outside of the department to maintain the quality of lectures and to help the academy achieve its goal. For example, officials of the local chamber of commerce can deliver the overview of the area’s business structure. Economic or criminal justice academicians familiar with the jurisdiction may present issues, such as crime statistics and reporting, as well as the economics and cost of crime. Agencies can invite district attorney representatives and the local justice of the peace or small claims court judge to acquaint the audience with such legal issues as the processes of prosecution and restitution.

Representatives of major retail stores with successful results on pursuing shoplifting and decreasing employee theft also can teach these subjects. Additionally, employees from the Secret Service can teach students about counterfeiting, and the FBI can instruct on bank robbery and kidnapping. Officers from nearby major law enforcement agencies with specialized units for a variety of crime categories can educate the audience on topics, such as embezzlement, identity theft, fencing, extortion, and organized crime. Employees from other federal and state agencies, as well as specially trained citizen volunteers, can augment the available resource pool of instructors.

V. Loss Prevention
• Suspicious persons and situations
• Business crime watch
• Crime Stoppers
• Citizens on patrol and other volunteer programs
• Security assessment
• Selection of private security

Licensing and permits
Bribery
Organized crime
Federal and state criminal justice system and agencies
Emergency medical services
Special weapons and tactics
False alarm reduction
Personal safety, self-defense, and citizen’s powers of arrest

The costs of a BPA to the coordinating agency are minimal. The agency charges academy students tuition and application fees, which typically range from $20 to $100 per student. These funds should cover material expenses, such as binders, copies, handouts, and T-shirts. The agency covers any additional material cost. However, the local chamber of commerce or a business, such as a major retail store, may serve as a sponsor and help alleviate some of these costs. Labor represents the bulk of the costs incurred by the agency. Department officials can decide whether to pay their officers overtime or grant compensatory time for assuming teaching duties. Instructors from the chamber of commerce and business community, academicians, and citizen volunteers typically donate their time. Officers and representatives from other departments either volunteer their time or receive compensatory time from their respective agencies. The use of city or county newsletters and official agency press releases can minimize the cost of promotional advertisement. Additionally, word of mouth is an effective and inexpensive advertising tool. Although unlikely, potential liability costs from accidents exist despite signed liability waivers. Thorough instruction before equipment demonstrations, role-plays, and simulations decreases these risks.

Law enforcement accrues both direct and indirect benefits from a BPA. An enormous direct benefit is the reduction of the workload of an agency’s investigators. Many investigators can recount their frustrations over business owners or managers unwilling to aid in criminal investigations. Business representatives often cite fears of potential civil liabilities, as well as a lack of knowledge about the process and length of the criminal prosecution. For example, one store manager of a nationwide retail store in a wealthy suburban community admitted that checking for identification of customers who pay with checks or credit cards is too time consuming, especially at the peak of the Christmas holiday shopping season. This manager openly hypothesized to investigators that profits would compensate for losses even if his store suffered $100,000 in losses per month due to fraud because the store would make about $1,000,000 in profits per month. This attitude is counterproductive; it causes some businesses to deny problems and to let criminal incidences go unreported. The BPA helps to reverse this attitude and reduce investigation time as cooperation from the business community increases.

A BPA familiarizes the business community, in-depth, with the different crimes commonly committed against businesses. Students learn how to prepare for, detect, act, react, and prevent crimes against businesses. They learn the importance of pursuing crimes committed against them and their businesses and not to simply accept their losses or rely on their insurance coverage. Instructors from the local prosecutor’s office address students’ fears about potential civil liabilities, which include filing a complaint to the actual prosecution and, in the best case scenario, to the conviction, sentencing, and restitution phase.

Further, implementing the advice and practices learned at the BPA reduces the likelihood of businesses being victimized; increases the probability that business owners, managers, and staff members will survive violent incidents; and increases the probability of arresting offenders. In the long run, these factors lower rates of crime against businesses. But, in the short term, the greater number of reports and apprehensions will lead to a statistically higher rate of crime against businesses. However, many crimes against businesses, such as check and credit card fraud, business burglary, and counterfeiting, are committed by serial criminals. Their apprehension and prosecution will significantly decrease the number of such crimes in the community and further lower the crime rate in the long run. Moreover, the short-run statistical increase in crime against businesses gives the agency a more accurate picture of crime incidences. Departments can develop appropriate strategies and allocate resources needed to fight crime, which leads to a decrease in the rate of crime against businesses.

Indirectly, the agency benefits from enhanced ties to the business community, which results in a safer business climate or, at least, the perception of one. The agency’s reputation in the business community increases, which potentially can lead to tangible business support of various agency initiatives and programs. Business assistance may include sponsorships for different agency volunteer programs. Other examples include business support for agency resource requirements and bond issues.

Business police academies bring the business community and police agency together. The academy’s educational environment gives law enforcement personnel an ideal opportunity to communicate with members of local businesses. Agencies carefully should select their target audience, provide a curriculum that covers topics specific to members of the business community, and choose instructors from individuals outside of their departments to ensure that the BPA accomplishes its goal. Additionally, the costs of implementing and operating a BPA are minimal compared with its direct, as well as indirect, benefits.

The BPA provides law enforcement with an opportunity to teach and convince business owners, managers, and staff about the multitude of mutual rewards that both sides will derive from greater cooperation in fighting crimes against businesses. In the end, the reduced crime rate proves beneficial to the whole community.

¹ See Dave Hurdle, Bunbury District Police, Western Australia, “Business Police Academy,” retrieved on July 25, 2002, from http://www. ezefind.com.au/ Police%20Business%20Academy.htm.

² For more information on CPAs, as well as their implementation, see Ronald E. Ferguson, “The Citizen Police Academy,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, September 1985, 5-7; Martin Alan Greenburg, “Citizen Police Academies,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, August 1991, 10-13; Giant Abutalebi Aryani, Terry D. Garrett, and Carl L. Alsabrook, “The Citizen Police Academy: Success Through Community Partnerships,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, May 2000, 16-21; and Elizabeth M. Bonello and Joseph A. Schafer, “Citizen Police Academies: Do They Do More Than Entertain?” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, November 2002, 19-23.

American Values in Decline: What Can We Do? by William M. Fox, 1st Books Library, Bloomington, Indiana, 2001.

American Values in Decline: What Can We Do? reviews the trends contributing to America’s decline in values involving the ideas, customs, and institutions that define what is moral, as well as what constitutes right and wrong behavior. It considers the conscious development of failure, the predisposition toward inappropriate behavior, and what can be done to maintain the greatness of America and its people through obeying the laws and respecting the rights and property of others.

The author states that it is simplistic to assume that by doing what is right is the result of knowing what is right, rather that various factors interact in society to cause ethical behavior. He emphasizes that it does not take money or power to be kind to a friend or stranger, to stand by a loved one, or fight against injustice. It is not the big things in life that make up America’s history and freedoms as a nation, but the small events, the everyday decisions that give meaning to this nation’s future and the role that values have on positive or negative behavior. Genetic inheritance on the types of values acquired by people in the socialization process has impact on how basic core values are achieved.

The book presents a candid approach to the author’s research in tracing core values of honesty, loyalty, morals, and hard work in America from the time of the first settlers to the present day and why these values have declined. As a free nation, America’s culture, beliefs, and way of life are being attacked and undercut by people indifferent or actively hostile to the laws and core values that make America a great and proud nation of people willing to die for its protection.

The power of values has a direct influence on positive behavior through first ensuring that all schools, public and private, are consistent with the country’s core values and by reducing or eliminating the erosion of standards and self-esteem in students through the enhancement of teacher preparation and parental involvement. Second, the author addresses ethics in political leadership, including government, private industry, and individual fraud. He emphasizes that conscientious people of principle should be selected to serve without fear or favor from others in the political arena and that this standard of selection would impact many areas, ranging from welfare and campaign donations to budgeting and contracts. Third, the author considers the core values in the administration of justice and what can be done, ranging from examining the ethical responsibilities of prosecutors and defense attorneys to correcting the misdirection in the rehabilitation of criminals. For example, in regards to lawsuits, he recommends placing caps on punitive damages to curb greed and protect people from unwanted penalties. Last, the author examines the need for nurturing values in the business sector. He suggests developing and implementing adequate business policies and regulations, eliminating deception and exploitation within and outside business, establishing attainable and workable programs, and creating and enforcing a strong and positive code of business ethics.

Given the effectiveness of the numerous remedies in each part of the book, many steps can be taken to introduce and nurture core values. Some are in the areas of the administration of justice, rehabilitation of criminals, political leadership, the chronically unemployed, and the strict ethical management of domestic and international business operations. Overall, the author asks, “Shall we have moral growth or future decline for our families, communities, and nation?” All members at all levels in the criminal justice system should read this book because it offers a very frank approach to many of the problems that Ameri-can society faces today. It also could benefit the military, research institutions, law and business schools, employment security commissions, and Congress, as well as behavioral and anger management training programs.

Reviewed by Larry R. Moore Certified Protection Professional American Society for Industrial Security Knoxville, Tennessee

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, brought the importance of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to the forefront of the American public’s attention. Prior to that date, a great portion of the general population had little knowledge of the brave men and women who protect U.S. borders.

Charged to, “in a timely and consistent manner, determine the admissibility of persons seeking entry; deny entry to inadmissible aliens; enforce criminal provisions against those who conspire to promote illegal entry and stay; and deter future illegal entry and stay in the United States,”¹ INS inspectors not only enforce the nation’s laws but also serve as the first Americans many foreigners encounter. They must determine the admissibility of all persons at air, sea, and land ports of entry. They intercept human and narcotic smugglers and can physically search, without warrant, applicants and their personal belongings. INS inspectors must ensure that foreign nationals enter the United States with proper documentation, verifying whether holders have authentic and current passports and visas. They interpret laws and clarify decisions to persons seeking entry into the country. They arrest, detain, parole, or deport persons according to laws, instructions, or regulations. To accomplish these tasks, INS inspectors complete a rigorous 17-week training course that covers a variety of topics, such as legal procedures (e.g., constitutional law, conspiracy law, and U.S. Customs and U.S. Department of Agriculture laws), behavioral sciences, physical and firearm training, and nonlethal control techniques.

The INS has many types of offices located in the United States and abroad.² It has 33 district offices in the United States and 3 overseas. District offices, each headed by a district director, enforce immigration laws and provide

certain immigration services and benefits to residents of their specific geographic jurisdiction. INS staff members collect applications, conduct interviews, and answer questions at these offices. Some district offices have suboffices and satellite offices determined, in part, by the needs of INS customers. In addition to these offices, the INS also divides the United States into Border Patrol sectors responsible for enforcing immigration laws.

Three regional offices oversee the work of the district offices and sectors. Three administrative centers, collocated with the regional offices, implement administrative policy and deliver direct service to their geographic areas. The INS established four service centers to handle mail, conduct data entry of information, and process applications. It also has eight asylum offices to help those individuals seeking shelter in the United States. To facilitate the application process, the INS uses application support centers at various locations.

All of these offices exist to support over 300 ports of entry in the United States, including international airports, land border ports, and seaports. As an example, the Paso del Norte port of entry in El Paso, Texas, will illustrate how the INS protects America’s borders on a daily basis.

Mr. Soper recently retired from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, where he served as an inspector, cares sustainment coordinator, and a member of the Paso del Norte Port of Entry Collateral Intelligence Team in El Paso, Texas.

Nearly 250 INS inspectors are in the El Paso, Texas, district. During fiscal year 2000, these inspectors, along with U.S. Customs personnel, conducted over 68 million inspections in 9 ports of entry.³During the busiest days (Saturdays and holidays), more than 25,000 pedestrians applied for admission into the United States from Mexico at the Paso del Norte port of entry, part of the total for the year of nearly 8 million pedestrians for the entire district. The majority of these pedestrians entered the United States to shop in stores in El Paso, but others came with different agendas.

On the Southwest land border, INS inspectors encounter several different types of applicants throughout their normal tour of duty. Mexican nationals comprise the greater part of the applicants, but many other nationalities also apply for admittance, including U.S. citizens. With such large amounts of people applying for entry, inspectors have just a few seconds to establish the validity and genuineness of documents and presenters. INS and U.S. Customs inspectors must make quick, on-the-spot decisions pertaining to the admissibility of applicants. Scrutinizing facial features and actions of applicants requires alertness and attention to detail. Most applicants have lawful intentions, but some pose as impostors and others present altered or counterfeit documents in their attempts to enter the United States. Because a need for unskilled laborers exists in the United States, many are lured by better-paying jobs. In addition, economical conditions, wars, and natural disasters cause many aliens to leave their homelands and seek refuge in safer surroundings.

INS inspectors divide their duty time among processing immigrant visas, issuing permits, and questioning aliens. Inspectors handle prosecution cases and, due to changes in the law, remove or deport certain aliens not admissible. Because several oppressive governments reign throughout the world, many people request political asylum at American ports of entry. These individuals fear that they will face jail, or worse, if forced to return to their homeland. In the El Paso district, the INS usually detains such applicants at its El Paso Processing Service Center until the individuals can speak with an asylum officer.

In the El Paso district during fiscal year 2000, over 60 million drivers and passengers crossed the border in their motor vehicles. With an emphasis on maintaining the flow of vehicular traffic north, inspectors must check all vehicle occupants and their documentation promptly and accurately. Although watchfulness proves important, law enforcement computer systems also assist INS inspectors in their daily efforts to protect America’s borders.

INS has several computer databases available to authorized personnel. The Central Index System, the master records management system, collects and distributes biographical information on aliens. It contains the physical status of alien files and is the foundation of information for many functions pertaining to the mission of the INS. The Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) represents the primary resource for apprehending criminal aliens. It resides on the Treasury Enforcement Communications System, provides law enforcement agencies access to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, and permits users to interface with all 50 states via the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. Besides the U.S. Customs Service, 19 other federal agencies use the IBIS.

Through its terminals, approved employees quickly can check an individual’s name and date of birth for any prior criminal history and also determine whether guns and vehicles are stolen. At pedestrian inspection lanes, an authorized person can log onto the IBIS and, together with a document reader, guide an individual’s passport or alien card through the reader to check for any illegal activity. At vehicle inspection booths, INS inspectors can query an individual’s name and date of birth or alien file number to check for any wanted notifications or criminal activity. At many land border entry points, INS has installed license plate readers, which speeds up the inspection process and gives advance warning to inspectors (e.g., an alert banner flashes to indicate a stolen vehicle). If the preliminary inspection warrants further checks, INS personnel scan the suspect’s photograph and fingerprints into the Automated Biometric Fingerprint Identification System (IDENT), which searches two databases, Lookout and Recidivist, for a possible match. If the computer systems reveal nothing, then the inspectors must rely on their investigative and interviewing skills to ascertain the truth.

The high volume of pedestrian traffic at major land ports of entry offer cover to aliens attempting illegal entry or reentry. Many criminal aliens have prior arrests or convictions for drug-related charges. INS inspectors generally intercept criminal aliens, as well as U.S. citizens, by using the IBIS card readers and the IDENT. Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States input wanted persons and juvenile runaways into these systems. INS inspectors at the Paso del Norte port of entry consistently apprehend persons wanted by various law enforcement agencies and detain these subjects to confirm their extradition. Once that occurs, the inspectors normally release the subjects into the custody of the El Paso Police Department.

Danger lurks in every encounter as some of these criminals are armed. In addition, individuals under the influence of alcohol or other drugs and people with mental illness can become uncooperative, argumentative, and sometimes violent. Inspectors have found weapons in vehicles and hidden on people attempting to enter the United States. Especially dangerous to inspectors and the general public are the desperate port runners who use their vehicles, usually loaded with illegal drugs, as lethal weapons to barge past inspectors. Bomb threats occur almost weekly and result in closing the bridges until bomb-sniffing dogs can examine the area. The El Paso Police Department or the nearby military installation, Fort Bliss, normally supply these hardworking dogs and their handlers.

Like many other American cities, El Paso is a transportation hub. It is a major crossing for railroads and has several bus lines downtown. These means of transportation provide quick and easy passage for drug and human smugglers. The flow of illegal drugs into the United States persists. Traffickers will try any method to conceal the drugs and attempt any means to avoid apprehension. Inspectors seize marijuana most often. Although intercepting illegal drugs is a secondary function for INS inspectors, they commonly refer vehicles to U.S. Customs personnel. Conversely, not all drugs smuggled into this country arrive in vehicles. Inspectors find all sorts of illicit drugs taped to people’s bodies. Some smugglers, known as body carriers, ingest drugs contained in protected pellets. Lured by the large potential profits, all sorts of people attempt to smuggle drugs into the United States. Some smugglers bring their families with them as cover, while others attempt entry alone. Faced with no readily identifiable portrait of a drug smuggler, INS inspectors must remain alert to the actions and reactions of every person applying for entry into this country.

Alien smuggling also represents a lucrative business venture. Some reports put the price at between $30,000 and $50,000 per person smuggled into the United States. In the El Paso district, family members trying to help relatives attempt most of the alien smuggling. INS inspectors generally find people hiding in vehicles, behind truck seats, and in trunks, but, sometimes, they locate individuals in dashboards, gas tanks, under floorboards, and in specially built concealed compartments.

Many criminals, terrorists, or otherwise inadmissible subjects use fraudulent documents. INS inspectors encounter the illegitimate sale and rental of immigration documents from Mexico and elsewhere. Fraudulent documents generally fall into two categories, counterfeit or altered.⁴ Counterfeiting documents involves copying, forging, or imitating an original with the intent to deceive. Altering documents, on the other hand, entails changing one or more elements of a genuine legitimate document without destroying the original document, again with the intent to defraud. The quality of such documents varies greatly, from high-quality documents that could pass a cursory inspection to poor-quality documents that contain obvious flaws. However, increased computer technology makes document duplication better and easier for counterfeiters.

The Internet offers bogus Social Security cards, passports, and law enforcement identification. People can use these documents for immigration purposes or as substantiating evidence to support claims of U.S. citizenship. In addition, Web sites advertise information on how to order birth certificate templates from all 50 states. The possibility of the Internet becoming a major document supplier soon may represent a real threat as people learn of its potential. Moreover, in the last few years, identity theft, or assuming another person’s identity, has become more prevalent and greatly concerns the INS.⁵ Obtaining a valid birth certificate represents the normal route to assuming someone’s identity. Occasionally, INS inspectors intercept an individual who possesses several documents issued under the assumed name, usually as some type of identification bearing the subject’s photograph and the assumed name. Many victims of identity theft have learned the hard way the importance of protecting their Social Security number and other pertinent personal data. Identity thieves damage credit ratings and cause financial hardships for their victims.

Concerns about terrorism continue to demonstrate the need for immigration intelligence gathering and analysis. Without performing intelligence activities, the INS cannot compete with organized criminals and terrorists. As the primary collectors of information, INS collateral intelligence officers assigned to ports of entry collect and disseminate information that pertains to terrorists, criminal aliens, smugglers, and identity thieves. They produce alerts and distribute reports documenting significant incidents, such as bomb threats, port runners, and incidents involving weapons. They also compile quarterly threat assessments that provide INS managers with the clarity to formulate plans, policies, and guidance for the future. The collateral intelligence officers predict criminal activities and current and future trends, create alerts on wanted persons, and post advance warnings. They also conduct preliminary evaluations of information and assist other law enforcement agencies. For example, the officers disseminated a bulletin produced by the FBI that resulted in two INS inspectors at the Paso del Norte port apprehending a suspected bank robber. The intelligence officers also work closely with the local law enforcement community. Their assistance normally deals with alerts or posting “lookouts” of persons wanted by the local authorities. Intelligence officers assigned to the Paso del Norte port of entry meet with representatives from the El Paso Police Department intelligence unit, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the DEA, the Border Patrol, and the U.S. Customs. The officers also meet with representatives from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Secret Service, the Army’s Criminal Investigations Division, and the New Mexico State Department of Safety. They attend these weekly and monthly meetings to discuss a variety of topics, including officer safety, bomb threats, smuggling, and gang activities.

Intelligence analysts evaluate the information gathered from the ports of entry for reliability and validity. They also review the information for trends and patterns to provide INS managers with the knowledge to make tactical, operational, and strategic decisions.

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has a long and distinguished history of welcoming tourists, business travelers, and other temporary visitors to America at a variety of land, sea, and air ports of entry. It also has the responsibility of administering benefits, such as naturalization and permanent resident status on those individuals lawfully applying to reside in this country. Conversely, the INS has the authority to apprehend and remove aliens who have entered illegally or violated the requirements of their stay.

This dual and often-conflicting responsibility can burden even the most dedicated employee; however, it also can provide a high-degree of job satisfaction, whether introducing a new arrival to the freedoms and opportunities in the United States or intercepting a large quantity of illegal drugs bound for a schoolyard. INS inspectors willingly face both to protect not only U.S. citizens but also foreign visitors and new immigrants eager to participate in the American experience.

At the time of publication, the status of the INS remained unknown. However, because homeland security weighs heavily upon all of America’s law enforcement professionals, the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin offers this article as a means of presenting the crucial role that the INS has played in the security of the United States and to honor those officers killed and assaulted while protecting this nation’s borders.

³ Annually, the INS compiles and publishes data in the Statistical Yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; view such reports at the agency’s Web site, http:// www.ins.usdoj.gov.

⁴ For additional information, see John M. Davis, “Passport Fraud,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, July 1998, 9-13.

⁵ For additional information, see Matthew L. Lease and Tod W. Burke, “Identity Theft: A Fast-Growing Crime,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, August 2000, 8-13; and John Pollock and James May, “Authentication Technology: New Levels in the Fight Against Identity Theft and Account Takeover,” FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, June 2002, 1-4.

Trafficking in persons is a crime in which foreign nationals are brought to the United States under false premises to work in abhorrent conditions with little or no compensation. Estimates suggest that as many as 50,000 victims are trafficked into the United States each year, but few actually are detected. Isolated and vulnerable, victims often are coerced and intimidated through physical detention and debt bondage, making it impossible for them to report the crimes. Unfamiliar with U.S. laws, culture, and language and relying on their traffickers’ accounts, victims often do not realize that they can get help. Understanding the dynamics of trafficking, the available resources, and the rights of trafficking victims can help organizations identify victims and provide them with meaningful services. Trafficking in Persons: A Guide for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) discusses benefits and services for which victims may be eligible, tools that NGOs may use to assist victims in obtaining immigration relief, and federal resources that can help victims of trafficking. This brochure, developed by the U.S. Department of Justice in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a second brochure, Information for Victims of Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labor, are available on the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Web site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) introduces Promoting Safety in Schools: International Experience and Action. This 68-page BJA monograph (NCJ 186937) provides information on school safety trends, policies, and projects from the United States and abroad. It reports that successful domestic and international approaches to school safety tend to be built around four major principles: a community-based approach; a focus on the school atmosphere, not just physical security or individual
students; a partnership problem-solving model; and the holistic use of multiple strategies, not just single programs. It is available electronically at http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/bja/186937.txt or by contacting the National Criminal Justice Reference
Service at 800-851-3420.

Bulletin Reports is an edited collection of criminal justice studies, reports, and project findings. Send your material for
consideration to: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Room 209, Madison Building, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA 22135. (NOTE:
The material in this section is intended to be strictly an information source and should not be considered an endorsement
by the FBI for any product or service.)

Universal Principles of Criminal Behavior A Tool for Analyzing Criminal Intent

A Tool for Analyzing Criminal Intent

By Joe Navarro, M.A. and John R. Schafer, M.A.

A 39-year veteran detective of the Cleveland, Ohio, Police Department watched two men walk back and forth in front of a store window. They took turns peeking into the shop and walking away. After several passes, the two men huddled at the end of the street and looked over their shoulders as they spoke to a third person. Concerned that the men intended to rob the store, the detective moved in, patted down one of the men, and found a concealed handgun. The detective arrested the three men, thwarted a robbery, and averted the potential loss of life. This detective’s detailed observations became the basis for the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding stop and frisk.¹ More important, the Court acknowledged that criminals often communicate their intentions prior to the commission of a crime.

A broad analysis of unlawful activity reveals that all criminal behavior shares a common set of universal principles. These principles remain constant; however, they manifest differently for each individual depending on personality, criminal activity, and extrinsic factors. The universal principles of the criminal behavior (UPCB)² model does not focus on causal factors but, rather, provides a way to analyze the constituent stages of criminal behavior. Investigators can use the UPCB model as a tool to analyze criminal behavior in its nascent stages. The UPCB, a four-stage model, encompasses ideation, communication, facilitation, and actualization. Understanding the basic tenets of the UPCB model sensitizes law enforcement personnel to the antecedent behaviors that might signal future aberrant or criminal behavior.

Ideation motivates behavior for good or evil when conscious or subconscious thoughts take precedence as a result of intensity or frequency. Thoughts and ideas do not constitute crimes, but they do serve as the genesis for criminal behavior. However, not all repetitive thoughts portend evil. Thoughts of becoming a movie star, doctor, or firefighter inspire people and can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Conversely, compelling or nurtured thoughts of a nefarious nature can result in criminal behavior.

Criminals ideate as they formulate and reformulate plans to rob a bank, blow up a building, or avenge a slight. Even criminals acting on impulse ideate, however briefly. Ideation provides forethought that enables people to regulate their behavior or serves to rationalize criminal behavior. For the antisocial or psychopathic mind, ideation provides a value-free forum within which to develop new ways to take advantage of others or commit criminal acts. Ted Bundy, probably the most written-about psychopath, repeatedly ideated fantasies of sexual control and domination. Bundy meticulously thought and re-thought his plans to entice young women and subsequently murder them as he envisioned.³ Bank robbers, embezzlers, street muggers, and other criminals plan and think about their crimes before they act. Ideation manifests itself physiologically, verbally, nonverbally, symbolically, and behaviorally.

Ideation, a universal experience, presents itself differently for each individual depending on a variety of internal and external factors, including personality traits and personality disorders. For example, such criminals as John Wayne Gacey, the serial killer;⁴ Ted Kaczynski, the UNABOMBER;⁵ Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber; or Susan Smith, the mother who drowned her own children,⁶