SYNAR - Law Enforcement Related Guidance

Synar: Law Enforcement Related

Contact and assist local law enforcement/ALE officers to conduct tobacco compliance checks

Best Practice Steps: (These steps are NOT Recorded in ECCO but are the state protocols.)

PLANNING:

1. Prevention providers will contact officers from their local police or sheriffs’ departments to promote increased enforcement of youth access laws
2. If applicable, prevention providers will assist in the recruitment of male and female 16- to 17-year-old youth who appear their age (and should not misrepresent their age at any time).

IMPLEMENTATION:

1. Prevention providers will assist local law enforcement/ALE officers in the implementation of tobacco compliance checks by participating in ANY of the following tasks (note: block grant funds may not be used for actual enforcement activities)
   • Update DMH provided list of all retail tobacco outlets
   • Recruitment and age testing of youth for an enforcement operation
   • Serving as an adult observer or monitor during an enforcement operation
   • Provision of incentives for clerks who don’t sell tobacco products to minors during enforcement operations
   • Provision of refreshments and/or incentives to youth

EVALUATION:

Reach: Count law enforcement personnel supported/trained. If they conduct compliance checks comprehensively, also count 16–20-year-olds in the catchment area not counted under Synar merchant education

ECCO Process Data to Collect:

• Law Enforcement agencies contacted and level of support
• Tasks completed to assist with compliance checks and retailer training
• Number of enforcement operations: Compliance checks completed
• Number of retailers who violated youth access to tobacco laws
• Number of incentives disseminated to clerks and/or youth

ECCO Documentation to Upload:

• Recruitment tool
• Meeting minutes to show planning efforts
• Age Testing Methods
• Schedule
• Marketing materials example
• Summary of law enforcement work