NCJ Number
247383
Date Published
November 2012
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This profile of the Central Illinois Enforcement Group (CIEG), which counters drug trafficking and use in six Illinois counties, presents data on drug arrest trends in the targeted region, trends in prosecutions for drug offense and all felonies, and drug offender sentencing trends.
Abstract
In 2010, 26 local police agencies participated in CIEG. Each agency contributed either personnel or financial resources to CIEG. Nine officers were assigned to CIEG in 2010, six by participating agencies and three from the State Police. These officers work full-time for CIEG out of a central task force office. From 2002 to 2011, the number of drug arrests for cannabis and controlled substances in CIEG jurisdictions increased. This included arrests made by all law enforcement officers in the region, both CIEG and non-CIEG. The number of cannabis drug arrests in the 6 counties increased from 989 in 2002 to 1,021 in 2011, and the number of controlled substance arrests increased from 768 in 2002 to 790 in 2011. The number of drug arrests made by CIEG, however, decreased from 125 arrests in 2002 to 85 arrests in 2011. Between 2002 and 2011, 817 drug prosecutions were initiated as a result of CIEG arrests. Sixty-four percent of the 817 drug offenders prosecuted as a result of CIEG activity were convicted (n=522). According to CIEG data reports, between 2002 and 2011, the number of convicted CIEG drug offenders sentenced to prison decreased from 66 to 30. The number also decreased for probation, from 24 to 6. In addition to the profile of CIEG, this report presents findings from a survey of all Illinois drug multi-jurisdictional enforcement groups and task forces regarding the availability and price of drugs in Illinois. Cannabis, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine continued to be the most visible drugs on the street. 24 figures and 3 tables