[AUG. 15, 2005]
GRANITE CITY – In an effort to curb the alarming
problem of methamphetamine production and use ravaging Illinois
communities, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed several new laws that
give law enforcement more tools to protect Illinois families and
farmers. The comprehensive legislative package creates new criminal
offenses to help law enforcement crack down on people who assist in
the dangerous meth-manufacturing process, gives meth-addicted
inmates access to treatment and help before they’re released back
into their communities, and provides local law enforcement agencies
with more support in closing down and cleaning up illegal meth
labs. The Governor was joined by Attorney General Lisa Madigan,
lawmakers and law enforcement officials.
In
addition to signing legislation, Gov. Blagojevich announced more
than $3.5 million in federal funds that the state will use to help
communities in 61 counties combat the highly addictive drug.
“Methamphetamine is
one of the most addictive drugs on the streets right now. It not
only destroys the lives of users, but it can pose huge dangers to
families and entire communities where it is manufactured and used,”
said Gov. Blagojevich. “We’re marshaling our resources and
coordinating with law enforcement at every level to stop the meth
epidemic. These new laws will give local law enforcement more
support in their efforts to protect their communities, ensure kids
whose caregivers fall into the meth trap have safe and appropriate
care, and help addicts who go to prison get help before they go
home.”
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful
stimulant that affects the central nervous system, and is derived
from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, commonly used in cold medicine.
Statistics show that meth is a growing problem in Illinois. In
1997, law enforcement seized 24 meth labs. By 2004, that number
increased substantially to 959. The drug has quickly become the
most dangerous and perplexing problem for law enforcement,
particularly in Central and Southern Illinois.
The Governor signed Senate Bill 562, the
new Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, initiated
by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and sponsored by Sen. William R.
Haine (D-Alton) and Rep. John Bradley
(D-Marion). The new law creates a new, dedicated statute for
crimes related to the manufacture, distribution, and use of meth.
Senate Bill 562:
Creates a new offense targeting those who
buy or attempt to buy, transport or assemble meth-making materials
other than pseudoephedrine, ephedrine or anhydrous ammonia.
Creates a new offense targeting those who
work as lookouts for meth manufacturers.
Makes it a crime to dispose of meth
manufacturing waste.
Requires that those who manufacture meth in
places like hotels, motels, apartment buildings or condominiums
face mandatory prison time.
Makes it a Class 1 Felony to possess, sell,
or transport anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of making meth.
“While
methamphetamine can be imported, it very often is ‘homegrown’ here
in Illinois – made in someone’s kitchen or the trunk of a car. The
Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act recognizes that
meth is different than other drugs: meth manufacture can cause just
as much harm – sometimes even more harm – than its distribution and
use,” Attorney General Madigan said. “This new law offers greater
protection to those who are most endangered by the manufacture of
meth in Illinois, including children, law enforcement, families and
entire communities.”
The new statute created by SB 562 is expected
to improve the ability of law enforcement and prosecutors to hold
meth offenders responsible for their crimes. It goes in to effect 30
days from today, on September 11th, 2005.
“We have got to take a stand against this drug
and we have to act now,” said Sen. Haine. “There’s a lot at stake
for our communities and we have an obligation to ensure an
individual’s rights to live in a safe environment.”
“I am proud that the
Governor is signing Senate Bill 562 and House Bill 2411 today,” said
Rep. Bradley. “The Governor recognizes the crisis that we have in
this state regarding methamphetamine and he is taking the
significant steps to work with us in addressing this issue.”
“This new law will make it easier for law
enforcement officers to bring charges against and prosecute the
criminals who produce methamphetamine,” said Rep. Daniel Beiser
(D-East Alton), a co-sponsor of SB 562. “Meth producers
are popping up in our neighborhoods all over this area and it is
becoming more of a problem every day. I held a town hall meeting to
address this growing concern and I am committed to protecting
families from the problems associated with this deadly drug. I
appreciate the attention the Governor has given this issue by
signing SB 562 into law.”
In
addition to signing critical legislation to combat meth, the
Governor earmarked more than $3.5 million in federal funding to
crack down on meth-making, selling, and use of meth and other
illicit drugs throughout Illinois. This funding will aid 20
multijurisdictional narcotics units fighting drug crimes in 61
Illinois counties.
“Some of our law enforcement agencies in smaller, rural areas are
overwhelmed with the growing demand on resources and manpower that
the meth epidemic requires,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “This funding
will provide a much-needed boost to rural counties as they continue
working on the frontlines to fight this epidemic.”
The
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) will
administer Justice Assistance Grant funds to multijurisdictional
narcotics units, also known as metropolitan enforcement groups (MEGs)
and drug task forces, throughout the state. The ICJIA is the state
agency designated by the Governor to administer Justice Assistance
Grant funds awarded to Illinois by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Each
unit creates individualized strategies to address the drug problems
facing each county. Methamphetamine remains a major focus of task
forces in central and southern Illinois. Seizure of marijuana,
heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and other designer drugs are priorities
for northern counties, including DuPage, Kane, and Lake.
Multijurisdictional narcotics units were first introduced in 1991.
In 2004, MEGs and task forces:
Made 3,962 drug
arrests, resulting in 2,233 convictions.
Identified and seized
961 clandestine meth labs. Rural MEGs and task forces were
responsible for more than 65 percent of all meth lab seizures in
2004.
Seized 332,155 grams of
meth, up 57 percent from 2003.
Seized 1,019,177 grams
of cocaine, up 31 percent from 2003.
“These units have made a
significant impact on the drug trade in
Illinois,” said Authority Executive Director Lori G. Levin. “We want
to support their efforts by providing the resources they need to
fight the production, sale, and use of illegal drugs across the
state.”
The counties receiving funding,
along with the amount of the grants, are listed at the bottom of
this release.
Gov.
Blagojevich also signed the following bills addressing the
manufacturing of methamphetamine:
Creation of a
treatment pilot program: Sponsored by Rep. John Bradley
(D-Marion) and Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton), House Bill 2411
creates the Methamphetamine Abusers Pilot Program at the Franklin
County Juvenile Detention Center and Franklin County Jail. People
convicted of unlawful possession of meth and who are determined to
have an abuse or addiction problem with the drug may be ordered to
participate in the pilot program. Once enrolled, the individual
will receive needed medical and psychiatric treatment for
methamphetamine abuse or addiction for 90-180 days. The court will
approve the individual treatment plans in consultation with the
Department of Human Services. The new law goes in to effect
January 1, 2006.
“House Bill 2411 recognizes that these people have a problem,” said
Sen. Forby. “They’ve fallen victim to a very powerful narcotic and
need our help to get their lives back under control.”
Educational seminars
for judges: Sponsored by Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) and
Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), House Bill 3515 requires
the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to conduct
education seminars for judges throughout the state on how to
operate drug court programs with a specific emphasis on cases
involving the illegal possession of meth.
HB 3515 is effective immediately.
"We must equip our judges with the knowledge needed to better
understand how methamphetamine effects individuals, communities, and
all persons involved dealing with a drug as volatile and complicated
as methamphetamine. There is too great a risk in having these
offenders released unnecessarily, only to return to their community
to manufacture more meth," said Sen. Hunter.
Reimbursement for
costs of fighting meth: Because combating methamphetamine is
costly for local law enforcement agencies, Rep. Robert W.
Pritchard (R-Sycamore) and Sen. Dale A. Righter (R-Mattoon)
sponsored legislation to address the issue of funding the fight
against meth. House Bill 3504 creates the Methamphetamine
Law Enforcement Fund, which will provide money to local law
enforcement for costs associated with fighting meth. The
legislation directs the $100 fine currently collected from meth
offenders into the new Fund. The money in the Fund will be
allocated to local law enforcement agencies to reimburse the costs
of securing and cleaning meth manufacturing sites, defray the
costs of employing officers, and defray the costs of medical or
dental expenses resulting from the incarceration of meth addicts.
The new law goes in to effect January 1, 2006.
Sen. Righter added, “My main concern is
for the citizens in southern and central Illinois where
methamphetamine and problems associated with this readily
attainable, highly addictive poison have already taken a toll. Under
the new law, the individuals who choose to place others in harm’s
way will now bear the responsibility. We hope that their arrest,
conviction, and the associated fine will lessen the financial burden
for innocent victims and assist law enforcement their efforts to
combat methamphetamine production and abuse.”
Sen. Righter added, “My main concern is
for the citizens in southern and central Illinois where
methamphetamine and problems associated with this readily
attainable, highly addictive poison have already taken a toll.
Under the new law, the individuals who choose to place others in
harm’s way will now bear the responsibility. We hope that their
arrest, conviction, and the associated fine will lessen the
financial burden for innocent victims and assist law enforcement
their efforts to combat methamphetamine production and abuse.”
Methamphetamine
restitution: Sponsored by Sen. Dale A. Righter (R-Mattoon)
and Rep. David Reis (R-Olney), House Bill 3507 clarifies
that the restitution required of meth offenders whose manufacture
of the drug required an emergency response will include the cost
of reasonable regular and overtime costs incurred by local law
enforcement as well as money paid by public agencies to private
contractors to secure the site. It also requires that the
restitution payments be disbursed equitably first to local
agencies, then to state agencies, and finally to federal agencies
involved in the emergency response. HB 3507 becomes effective
January 1, 2006.
Protection of
children found in a meth environment: Sponsored by Rep. Roger
L. Eddy (R-Hutsonville) and Sen. Dale A. Righter (R-Mattoon),
House Bill 3531 directs the Department of Child and Family
Services (DCFS), State Police (ISP), and State Board of Education
to develop a protocol to deal with the growing problem of children
who are exposed to meth manufacturing or use. The protocol will
ensure that DCFS, law enforcement, and educators are involved with
finding the best way to help these children. The agencies will
determine an appropriate person for an affected child to stay with
for proper care and supervision, including food, housing, and
medicine, as well as making sure the child continues to attend
school. State agencies have already begun to develop this official
process and it will be posted on each agency's website after it is
finalized. HB 3531 becomes effective January 1, 2006.
Removal of
clandestine laboratory ingredients and apparatus: Sponsored
by Rep. Donald L. Moffitt (R-Galesburg) and Sen. Dale E. Risinger
(R-Peoria), House Bill 3532 requires the Illinois State
Police to develop a protocol to be followed for the removal of any
and all identifiable clandestine laboratory ingredients and
apparatus. The protocol must be posted on the ISP’s web site. HB
3532 is effective immediately.
Anhydrous ammonia
security grants: Sponsored by Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Charleston)
and Sen. Richard J. Winkel, Jr. (R-Urbana), House Bill 3526
will establish anhydrous ammonia security grant programs to
improve security at anhydrous ammonia facilities by encouraging
the use of industry approved ammonia additives, the installation
of tank locking devices, or the installation of security systems
to prevent the use of anhydrous ammonia in the illegal manufacture
of methamphetamine. The law is effective immediately.
-
In February, under the direction of Gov. Blagojevich, the Illinois
State Police (ISP) formed six dedicated Methamphetamine Response
Teams responsible for investigating, seizing, and dismantling
clandestine drug laboratories. The teams are located throughout
Illinois and are dedicated to meth operations and available to
assist local police agencies and task forces, especially in the area
of manpower issues or concerns. The Illinois State Police offers
these indicators of a clandestine lab:
A strong odor of
chemicals in the area or complaints from neighbors about
strong smells coming from the property;
Heavy fortification
such as bars on the windows;
Suspicious auto traffic
and visitors to the site;
Chemical cans or drums
in the yard;
People leaving the
building just to smoke;
Once you have
determined that you have encountered a clandestine lab, exit the
area immediately and contact your local law enforcement agency.
Law enforcement teams receiving Justice Assistance Grants include:
State Line Area
Narcotics Team (SLANT) Task Force - $149,995
Stephenson County
Winnebago County
Boone County
Lake County MEG
- $339,011
Lake County
North Central
Narcotic Task Force - $174,587
McHenry County
DeKalb County
Kane County
DuPage County
MEG - $182,000
DuPage County
Blackhawk Area
Task Force - $86,970
JoDaviess County
Carroll County
Whiteside County
Henry County
Lee County
Joliet
Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad - $174,555
Grundy County
Will County
Zone 3 / LaSalle
Task Force - $73,292
LaSalle County
Bureau County
Quad-Cities MEG
- $39,869
Rock Island County
Kankakee MEG -
$188,413
Kankakee County
Multi-County MEG
- $88,974
Peoria County
Knox County
Marshall County
Tazewell County
Zone 6 Task
Force - $80,132
Livingston County
McLean County
DeWitt County
Vermilion County
MEG - $179,476
Vermilion County
Central Illinois
Enforcement Group - $173,200
Logan County
Mason County
Sangamon County
Morgan County
Christian County
West Central
Illinois Task Force - $166,736
Henderson County
Hancock County
McDonough County
Fulton County
Adams County
Brown County
Pike County
-South
Central Illinois Drug Task Force - $106,330
Greene County
Macoupin County
Montgomery County
East Central
Illinois Task Force - $133,900
Shelby County
Moultrie County
Douglas County
Coles County
Southeastern
Illinois Drug Task Force - $167,503
Cumberland County
Clark County
Crawford County
Clay County
Metropolitan
Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois - $584,497
