Perceived Risks and Criminal Justice Pressures on Middle Class Cocaine Sellers

Abstract

This is a report of a qualitative study of the perceived risks and criminal justice pressures experienced by middle class cocaine suppliers. In-depth interviews with eighty ex-sellers indicate that most feel that they can avoid arrest by controlling the networks of buyers they sell to and do not believe that the police, police investigations, RICO laws and the activities of the IRS are any real threat. In general, they were much more concerned about informants, disgruntled customers and robberies than the police. Very often the sellers own drug abuse was a regular unanticipated risk that caused them to give up drug sales more than criminal justice pressures.