NCJ Number
169169
Date Published
1997
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Wisconsin ranked 16th in the United States for total drug arrests and 8th for juvenile drug arrests reported to the Uniform Crime Report Program, and multijurisdictional drug task forces operating in Wisconsin significantly contributed to the arrest statistics for the 1992-1996 period.
Abstract
Task forces made 4,990 arrests in 1996, of which 39.6 percent were for drug manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution and 60.4 percent were for drug possession. Between 1992 and 1996, distribution/cultivation arrests increased by 3.2 percent and possession arrests increased by 47.3 percent. Many more juveniles than adults were arrested by task forces, but percentage increases were greater for juveniles. Juvenile arrests rose by 292.2 percent between 1992 and 1996, while adult arrests rose by 10.5 percent during the same period. In 1992, juvenile arrests comprised 5.5 percent of all task force arrests. In 1996, this figure had climbed to 17.1 percent. About 72 percent of arrests over the 5 years involved marijuana. While cocaine arrests decreased by 31.6 percent, cocaine base arrests increased by 59.7 percent. The most rapidly spreading drug in Wisconsin between 1992 and 1996 was cocaine base. Adults, whites, and males comprised the largest groups of persons arrested, but the greatest percentage increases in arrests over the 5 years involved Native American juveniles and Asian adults. About 17 percent of all persons arrested each year were females. Task force accomplishments related to community service projects and programs to supplement law enforcement activities are briefly summarized. Supplemental information on drug arrests and task force operations is appended. 13 tables, 10 graphs, 5 maps, and 2 charts