must equal to 1200 words with intext citation and 3 sources listed below.

1. Describe in detail and explain the difference between the freelance and business models. 

2. Describe the four major methods of apprehension used by law enforcement in street level drug law enforcement, including any criticisms of these methods. 

3. Discuss mandatory minimum sentencing in detail. Be sure to include the arguments for and against this type of sentencing and the changes made to mandatory minimum sentencing laws since their enactment. 

4. Discuss in detail the use of drug courts. How do they operate? Are they successful? Discuss the potential of drug courts to reduce: 1) the demand for illicit drugs and 2) the costs associated with the enforcement of drug laws. 

Reply to Steph 75 words listed below

The four levels that were discussed were the reverse sting, the controlled buy, the undercover buy, and the knock and talk. Of these four the two that we use the most locally are the controlled buy and the knock and talk. In the controlled buy it is defined as "a law-enforcement operation in which an undercover informant buys an illicit drug under the supervision of the police. This method for us has shown the most success Levinthal, 2012, p.125)." Drug dealers are getting very selective on the individuals that will actually sell to. If we are able to use an already known user then they are likely to make the purchase easier that someone the dealer does not know. These informants are usually willing to buy from their dealers in an attempt to lessen their sentence. It helps the user and also helps law-enforcement tackle the bigger fish.

The second method that I have had the most success with is the knock and talk. The knock and talk was defined as " a law-enforcement operation in which agents ask for permission to search a residence for illicit drugs after asking the suspect whether anyone in the residence has been engaged in drug production or dealing (Levinthal, 2012, p.126)." I was working patrol several years back and we received a complaint of a younger male who had purchased crack cocaine and was now in the hospital after smoking it. I was able to locate the dealers residence and did a knock and talk. Prior to the knock and talk I made sure a K-9 team was present if I was actually given consent to search. I was able to receive the consent and the K-9 team went to work. With an alert in the master bedroom at a dresser drawer that was full of socks and large bag of crack cocaine was located and seized. The drug dealer was arrested and successfully prosecuted for the distribution of a schedule II narcotic. Both of these methods have been very successful through my career.

There are four methods of drug enforcement operations the reverse sting, the controlled buy, the undercover buy and the knock and talk. These operations are comprised of local and state agencies that work close with federal agencies (Levinthal, 2012). The two I would like to expound on are the reverse sting and undercover buy.

The reverse sting occurs when an officer goes undercover to sell drugs to an addict. When I first thought about the benefit of this operation, I did not think it would be worth the trouble, since they are not capturing the dealer only the user. After I read more about it, it does make sense by placing more officers on the street in plain clothes would deter users from buying in the area. This should also decrease drug related crimes from happening as well. “A body of empirical research has found that simply having more officers on the streets, even if they are not arresting or stopping anyone can be a crime deterrent” (Chettiar, 2015). Another benefit is that the user maybe ordered to go to addiction counseling. A portion of the drug addict’s assets can also be forfeited and retained by the agency (Levinthal, 2012).

Undercover buys can work in two ways first, the buy bust and second, the buy walk both have been portrayed in Hollywood movies. The buy bust is when an undercover agent sets up a deal that is monitored by other agents close by. A signal given to agents involved that it is now time to apprehend all of the individuals including the undercover officer. The buy walk is where a drug deal has taken place and later a warrant is issued for the dealers’ arrest (Levinthal, 2012). I prefer the undercover method of drug enforcement out of the other three options because typically everyone involved in the local deal is there at the time of the arrest. I think going in all at once to complete a bust is the best way possible, so no one gets tipped off and flees.