NCJ Number
199070
Date Published
January 2002
Length
72 pages
Annotation
This document discusses drug enforcement activities in Illinois.
Abstract
In 1999, 211 local Illinois police agencies participated in a Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Groups (MEGs) or task forces. Officers assigned to MEGs and task forces accounted for less than 2 percent of the total number of sworn police officers working for agencies participating in a MEG or task force. The violent offense rate was higher across jurisdictions that participated in a MEG or task force than among the combined jurisdictions that did not participate in a MEG or task force. Participation was also associated with greater overall drug arrest activity. The MEGs and task forces provided significant results in terms of drug enforcement, as reflected in their arrest productivity. When comparing types of drug offenders arrested by those agencies participating in a MEG or task force with those agencies not participating and all MEGs and task forces, it was found that MEGs and task forces tended to target and arrest more serious drug law violators in 1999, specifically felony-level offenses. Between 1993 and 1999, the proportion of total drug arrests accounted for by controlled substance arrests made by mostly urban and mixed urban/rural MEGs and task forces remained relatively stable, while the proportion increased for mostly rural MEGs and task forces. Mostly rural MEGs and task forces accounted for a significantly larger proportion of total drug arrests, cannabis arrests, and controlled substances arrests reported in regions covered by rural MEGs and task forces, compared to the proportion accounted for by mostly urban and mixed urban/rural MEGs and task forces. The majority of all drug arrests reported by MEGs and task forces between 1993 and 1999 involved drug sale or delivery. During this time period, the amount of cannabis seized decreased while the quantity of cocaine remained relatively stable. Between 1996 and 1999, the quantity of methamphetamine seized by all MEGs and task forces increased from 43 grams to more than 17,237 grams. Between 1991 and 1999, the majority of all drug arrests by MEGs and task forces resulted in prosecution, with probation sentences accounting for the largest proportion followed by prison sentences and jail sentences.