NCJ Number
247245
Date Published
November 2012
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This report presents a profile of the activities of the DuPage County (IL) Metropolitan Enforcement Group.
Abstract
The State of Illinois has two types of drug task forces - metropolitan enforcement groups (MEGs) and multi-jurisdictional task forces. This report presents a profile of the activities of the DuPage County MEG. The operations of MEGs in Illinois are limited to enforcement of drug laws and delineated weapons offenses and the investigation of street gang-related crimes. Key findings from analysis of the DuPage County MEG (DUMEG) include the following: from 2000 to 2009, the drug arrest rate decreased by less than 1 percent compared to a statewide decrease of 20 percent; from 2002 to 2011, the number of arrests in DuPage County for cannabis and controlled substances increased, with DUMEG officers making more of the arrests than non-DUMEG officers; in 2011, 77 percent of arrests by DUMEG officers were for controlled substances violations, compared to 68 percent in 2002; and in 2011, 87 percent of drug arrests by DUMEG officers were for felonies and 13 percent were for misdemeanors, while approximately 43 percent of drug arrests by non-DUMEG officers were for felonies and 57 percent were for misdemeanors. Additional information is provided on drug seizures, number of arrests for possession and delivery, trends in prosecutions for drug offenses and all felonies, and drug offender sentencing trends. Data for this report were obtained from quarterly data reports for the period 2002-2011 submitted by the DuPage MEG as required by the ICJIA (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority) grant, and drug arrest statistics for 2002-2011 submitted by law enforcement agencies to the State. Tables, figures, references, and appendixes