Police officers’ perceptions of drug-induced homicide laws
Evidence from Texas and implications for policy and practice
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21177656 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J C Reid (0000-0001-6130-3003, Mitchell Institute, corresponding author), Ling Ren (0009-0005-2535-4934, University of Nebraska at Omaha), Yujin Kim (0000-0001-7744-1515, University of Nebraska at Omaha) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 350-360 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-04 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Police Practice and Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1561-4263 • E-ISSN: 1477-271X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/15614263.2025.2587050 |
| OpenAlex | W4416060323 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
Amid the proliferation of synthetic opioids, prosecutors have increasingly turned to drug-induced homicide (DIH) laws as a legal mechanism to hold drug suppliers criminally accountable for fatal overdoses. Despite growing debate on the utility and consequences of DIH laws, little is known about how law enforcement officers (LEOs), who play a pivotal role in overdose response, perceive these laws and their effectiveness. This study, based on survey data of 78 Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Texas, finds that LEOs generally express confidence in the deterrent aspects of DIH enforcement. Deputies who exhibited an enforcement-oriented mindset, reported vicarious experiences with opioid overdoses, expressed concerns about unintended consequences of a newly enacted state drug prescription statute, and supported the application of DIH laws to victims’ co-users were significantly more likely to perceive DIH laws as effective. While officers’ positive views of DIH laws may signal greater investigative emphasis at overdose scenes, it remains critical that such efforts are carefully balanced with a sustained commitment to harm reduction principles
Criminal justice · Homicide · Occupational safety and health · Perception · Poison control · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Policing Practices and Perceptions
One guy goes to jail, two people are ready to take his spot”
Perceived vulnerability to overdose-related arrests among people who use drugs in Maryland
A modified Delphi process to identify experts’ perceptions of the most beneficial and harmful laws to reduce opioid-related harm
Effect of drug law enforcement on drug market violence
Prosecuting overdose
Drug induced homicide laws may worsen opioid related harms
| Highly cited | No |
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