Illinois opens broad attack on drug crime

Juvenile Justice Digest, Apr 18, 2003

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich opened a broad campaign against drug crimes that features increasing police resources, prevention aimed at teens and young adults and rehabilitation.

The governor said he would "use the full force of federal, state and local law enforcement to crack down on the sale, distribution and use of ecstasy. We are going to develop statewide tracking systems to identify where it is sold...starting with college campuses."

Illinois leads the nation in drug-related crime, Blagojevich said.

"Our new initiative, 'Project X,' will not just match federal spending on eliminating club drugs in this state, will triple it."

The state will earmark $2 million to address club drugs and start a program to make students and parents more aware of their dangers.

He said teen use of ecstasy has soared 71 percent since 1999 and yet Illinois' current club drug task force has one state trooper funded with a $400,000 federal grant.

"Since more criminals are in Illinois prisons for drug-related offenses, the more we reduce drug crime the safer our streets will be."

Blagojevich, a former prosecutor, said half of the 35,000 felons that state prisons release this year will be convicted of new crimes within 36 months.

The governor announced "Operation Spotlight," which he said would tighten supervision, increase how often parolees have to check in with parole officers and make it easier to impose sanctions like electronic monitoring.