Missouri’s narcotics laws are enforced in large part by 27 multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, divided regionally across the state. These task forces have limited oversight and are not bound by any state or federal law enforcement priorities.
Despite relatively high use rates of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in Missouri, our narcotics officers continue to allocate an inappropriate share of their time and resources to marijuana offenses. In fact, 8 of Missouri’s 27 Drug Task Forces brought more charges for marijuana than for any other drug (methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, cocaine, crack, etc).
- EIGHT OF MISSOURI’S 27 DRUG TASK FORCES BRING MORE DRUG CHARGES FOR MARIJUANA THAN FOR ANY OTHER DRUG.
The eight task forces include:
1. North County Municipal Enforcement Group (MEGADA)
2. Kansas City Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force
3. MUSTANG
4. Clay County/N Metro KC Task Force
5. Platte County MEG
6. St. Charles Drug Task Force
7. NITRO
8. STL Metro Undercover
Some task forces have more questionable priorities than others. The Platte County Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Group, for example, brought more charges for marijuana offenses than all other drugs combined. The STL Metro Undercover Task Force brought 142 charges for the possession of Marijuana. Excluding charges for possession of paraphernalia, the next highest number of charges was possession of heroin- at 121 charges.
All of this data comes from a report compiled by the Department of Public Safety, which you can access here: fy13-jag-rajag-annual-report
*This is the first of many updates I’ll be posting on this research blog in coming weeks and months. More soon!
Drug Task Force Priorities: Marijuana or Meth?
No comments:
Post a Comment