The drug task force, through the combined efforts of local, state and federal agencies, will actively pursue those groups or individuals who manufacture, distribute or sell illegal drugs within Franklin County. The Franklin County Drug Task Force functions as an extension of all law enforcement agencies within Franklin County.
The Franklin County Drug Task Force is a multi-agency narcotics task force based in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, which functions under the direction and control of the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office .
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Mission Statement
The main objectives of the Franklin County Drug Task Force are the investigation of individuals and organizations involved in narcotics trafficking, the seizure of assets acquired through narcotics trafficking, and the promotion of coordinated narcotics enforcement efforts among various law enforcement agencies within the county.
Get Back Up Program
Ways To Get Referred To The Program
Those in law enforcement recognize that every single life is precious and everything must be done to help victims who are suffering. This is not about “us” and “them;” it must always be viewed as “us.” While much must be done to combat addiction and the scourge of illegal drugs, current efforts move us closer to understanding the grayness of the line between addiction and crime. Mechanically, law enforcement’s role in helping individuals get the help they need may take many forms:
● Citizens may present themselves to the closest police station where they may surrender illegal drugs and paraphernalia and ask for help without being criminally charged.
● During a criminal investigation, law enforcement may determine that it would be more appropriate in a case to get help for a potential defendant rather than filing criminal charges. If the potential defendant follows through with the treatment plan, no criminal charges will be filed.
● After non-fatal overdoses, police will refer victims to a recovery liaison to get help.
● Law enforcement officers may make referrals to the Get Back Up team after any contact with citizens in the community, even if they are not subject to criminal investigation or even victims of a crime. If someone needs help regardless of the circumstances, law enforcement may make a referral to Get Back Up.
What Happens When You Are Referred To The “Get Back Up” Program
- Meet: Police will immediately schedule a meeting with the Get Back Up recovery liaison. The recovery liaison has a prior history of addiction and is in long-term recovery and is able to authentically communicate to the person in need.
- Assess: A clinical assessment will be expeditiously conducted in order to determine the immediate level of care necessary, whether it’s detox, long/short-term residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. An overall treatment plan will also be designed to provide for necessary “step-down” after initial treatment is completed.
- Schedule: Logistical arrangements will immediately be made to enroll the individual in whatever level of treatment is assessed. Insurance barriers will be confronted and usually overcome, sometimes with outside-the-box thinking.
- Follow Up: The individual will be consistently encouraged all along the way, not only to make the first step to begin treatment, but also to follow through with the entire treatment plan. Regular updates will be provided to the Get Back Up team regarding compliance.
For more information, call 717-372-4497.
Organization & Contributing Agencies
Agency Partnerships
The Franklin County Drug Task Force is comprised of sworn law-enforcement officers from
area municipal police departments, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, the
Pennsylvania State Police, and the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office. The primary
agencies involved with the drug task force are the Pennsylvania State Police and the Franklin County
District Attorney’s Office, both of whom supply two full-time officers to the drug task force.
Contributing agencies support the drug task force by supplying informants, intelligence
information, equipment, buy money, and manpower for surveillance, search warrants,
warrant sweeps, and other operations.
Types of Drug Task Forces
The Franklin County Drug Task Force is part of the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney
General’s Municipal Drug Task Force Program. The Municipal Drug Task Force Program is
the state’s primary weapon against street-level drug trafficking and also assists with mid- to
upper-level drug trafficking investigations. Sixty-two of the state’s 67 counties participate in
the drug task force program.
There are two types of drug task forces funded by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney
General: district attorney-controlled task forces and Attorney General-controlled task forces.
In a district attorney-controlled task force, the district attorney assumes control of the
supervisory responsibilities and decides how many police officers are assigned to the task
force.
In an Attorney General-controlled task force, a board comprised of chiefs of police, the
district attorney and a Bureau of Narcotics Investigation agent, who is a task force
coordinator, set task force priorities and assign task force officers. Presently, 32 of the 62
municipal drug task forces are district attorney-controlled task forces, including the Franklin
County Drug Task Force.
