NCJ Number
167191
Date Published
1996
Length
24 pages
Annotation
Twenty-six multijurisdictional task forces in 1995 continued to play a major role in the law enforcement effort against illicit drugs in Wisconsin.
Abstract
The 26 task forces made 4,786 arrests in 1995, of which 42.7 percent were for drug manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution and of which 57.3 percent were for drug possession. Between 1991 and 1995, distribution-cultivation arrests increased by 25.4 percent and possession arrests increased by 71.3 percent. Task force arrests increased by 48.2 percent between 1991 and 1995 and by 22.1 percent between 1994 and 1995. Many more adults than juveniles were arrested by task forces, but percentage increases were much greater for juveniles. Overall, juvenile arrests increased by 321 percent, while adult arrests increased by 33.8 percent. About 70 percent of arrests over the 1991-1995 period involved marijuana. Cocaine and cocaine base were also prevalent in offenses resulting in arrests; while cocaine arrests decreased by 36 percent, cocaine base arrests increased by more than 230 percent. The most rapidly spreading drugs in Wisconsin between 1991 and 1995 were cocaine base and heroin. While adults, whites, and males comprised the largest groups of persons arrested, notable increases occurred in the number of juveniles and Native Americans arrested. Task forces seized large volumes of drugs in about 1 of every 10 incidents investigated and cleared by arrest. Appendixes contain additional information on drug arrests and task force operations. 11 tables, 6 maps, 2 charts, and 7 graphs