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Crack houses are buildings used for the manufacture and sale of illegal drugs, and can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Laws vary by region, but can allow for the closure of suspected crack houses and charges for those who enter them. In the US, the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act can hold owners liable for drug production or distribution on their premises, and has been used to target events like raves. Crack houses are a dangerous element of urban decay, and citizens’ groups have attempted to rid their neighborhoods of them.
A crack house is a building dedicated to the manufacture and/or sale of crack cocaine and other illegal drugs. These buildings are usually abandoned or have owners who have shown no interest in their tenants, and if the people living in them distribute drugs, they will be frequented by a variety of visitors who seek them out. While most people believe that crack houses are set in urban areas, it is quite possible that these houses exist in suburban or rural communities. In general, the law defines what constitutes a crack house and can take specific actions against the owners or tenants of these buildings.
Different regions have different laws that define how you legally deal with a crack house. In the UK, the Anti-social Behavior Act 2003 empowered law enforcement and the justice system to deal with crack houses in different legal ways. When people in a home are suspected of manufacturing or distributing drugs, the Magistrates’ Court can issue an order closing down the home. When the house is closed, people who enter it are automatically charged with a felony.
Similar laws in the United States, such as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, can close down houses suspected of being a crack house and charge people to enter them. They also hold the owners of such homes criminally liable for allowing baiting or production on their premises. This act has extended beyond the traditional definition of a crack house. It was also intended to target drug distribution at events such as raves. In theory, any facility where drugs are manufactured or distributed could be considered a crack house, and the owners of that facility could be held liable.
US law has created some interesting legal examples. In 2010, there was talk of trying to crack down on drug use at Reed College because two students died of heroin overdoses in just one year and the college had a reputation for looking the other way on the drug use issue from part of the students. An annual festival at the school, which was known for a significant amount of drug use, led law enforcement to consider whether they could extend the crack house definition to the entire college campus and the idea of charging college administrators school of running a crack house was fun. Ultimately, the school was not charged with any wrongdoing and the festival appeared to show little sign of drug abuse.
Primarily in urban neighborhoods, crack houses are part of urban decay and a dangerous element of life in many poorer communities. Organized citizens’ groups have attempted to rid their neighborhoods of these houses, which pose a danger to themselves and their families. Despite laws attempting to outlaw crack houses and curb drug production and distribution, cities may lack the willpower or resources to get rid of these illegal hangouts.
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