Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced more than $5.3 million in federal funding that will be used to help fight the production, distribution and use of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs throughout Illinois. He also announced a new database developed by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority ( ICJIA ) that will help the state more closely monitor the growing meth problem in the country. The database will be ready for use early next year.
The federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act ( also known as the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program ) and the Justice Assistance Grant funding will aid 20 narcotics enforcement units and eight narcotics prosecution units fighting drug crimes in 66 Illinois counties.
ICJIA will administer the funds to the narcotics units, also known as metropolitan enforcement groups ( MEGs ) and drug task forces, throughout the state. ICJIA is the state agency designated by the governor to administer Anti-Drug Abuse Act and Justice Assistance Grant funds awarded to Illinois by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Among the task forces and MEGs that will receive enforcement unit grants are the Lake County MEG ( $271,209 ) and the North Central Narcotic Narcotic Task Force ( $139,670 ) . Prosecution unit grants will be given to such entities as the Cook County State's Attorney's Office ( $1.27 million ) .
In addition, ICJIA will use a $50,000 federal grant to create the Clandestine Laboratory Reporting Information System ( CLARIS ) , a Web site and online database that will allow all law enforcement agencies in Illinois to report meth lab seizures. All agencies, including Illinois State Police, will report data through CLARIS to the federal El Paso Intelligence Center ( EPIC ) data repository. Reporting lab seizures to EPIC will be required to receive federal funding for meth reduction activities.
In the past, Blagojevich has signed off on meth-related legislation that, among other things, sets up a statewide meth offender registry for people convicted under the 'Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing' statute.