Ar Arizona Criminal Justice Commission State of Arizona Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Annual Report 2006 December, 2006 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report The State of Arizona 2006 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Annual Report Presented to: The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance By Arizona Criminal Justice Commission December, 2006 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission1 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................. 1 About the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission ...................................................... 4 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5 Evaluation Plan..................................................................................................... 6 FY 2006 Program Progress .................................................................................... 7 Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and Tandem Prosecution Programs .................. 11 Drug Detention Program ....................................................................................... 16 Drug Forensic Analysis Programs ........................................................................... 17 Drug Court Adjudication Programs ......................................................................... 19 Gerald Hardt Memorial Criminal Records Improvement Programs............................. 22 Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Under 10 K ........................................................... 25 Drug Availability Cocaine ....................................................................................................... 26 Marijuana .................................................................................................... 28 Heroin ......................................................................................................... 31 Other Drugs ................................................................................................. 33 Methamphetamine........................................................................................ 34 Clandestine Laboratories in Arizona........................................................................ 36 State Methamphetamine Initiatives ........................................................................ 39 Substance Use Among Arizona Youth ..................................................................... 42 This publication was supported by Award Nos. 2005DJ-BX-0455 and 2006DJ-BX-0075 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice. This document is available in alternative formats by contacting the Commission office at (602) 364-1146 and on line at www.azcjc.gov. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission2 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Executive Summary The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) is pleased to present Arizona’s Annual Report on activities carried out under the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program for the period July 1, 2005 and ending July 30, 2006. In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006), the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program funds supported 102 programs within every Arizona County: ● Multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement task forces that integrate federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for the purpose of enhancing interagency coordination and intelligence and facilitate multi-jurisdictional investigations. ● Improving the operational effectiveness of the court process by expanding judicial resources, including public defenders, and implementing court delay reduction programs. ● Programs designed to provide additional correctional resources, including treatment within correctional institutions, intensive supervision, drug offender probation activities, and long range corrections and sentencing strategies. ● Developing programs to allow crime laboratories in the state to respond to the need for timely prosecutions by the enhancement of state and local forensic laboratories. ● Criminal justice information systems that help build infrastructure that allows for statewide integration of accurate and timely criminal history records, including automating fingerprint identification systems to assist law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and corrections organizations. Since the programs inception on April 1, 1988, Arizona’s drug abuse and violent crime control programs have been consistently balanced across these activities. Arizona utilizes a multi-agency, jurisdictional, and strategic approach to fight the illicit drug problem. Arizona’s continued support of 15 multi-jurisdictional drug task forces and tandem prosecution projects significantly enhance the ability of federal, state and local criminal justice authorities to effectively target narcotic trafficking organizations with their related violence. Additionally, local and state agencies collaborate to successfully arrest, prosecute, and convict offenders by pooling resources and coordinating efforts. In FY 2006 $9,547,553 in federal formula grant funds, matching dollars, and state enhancement funds were expended on these projects. Arizona has identified criminal justice records integration as a priority and has established an overall commitment to improve the process by voluntarily setting aside five-percent of the federal funds to this continued effort. These funds have been Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 1 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report leveraged with National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) funds to assist agencies in completing criminal justice record projects. The Criminal Justice Commission Statistical Analysis Center (SAC), in an ongoing effort to measure the improvement in criminal records, is using the Records Quality Index (RQI) to asses the quality of records and identify critical improvement activities by pinpointing deficiencies so funds can be better utilized toward that goal. The Bureau of Justice Statistics report shows 68.5 percent of all criminal history records are complete with final disposition rendered and posted within 3 years for the period ending 2003. This is up from 56.6 percent reported at the end of 1999. In FY 2006 $396,320 in federal formula and matching dollars were expended to enhance 10 projects that have enabled state, county and local law enforcement agencies to improve criminal justice record automation systems by the acquisition of hardware, software and consultant expertise. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission uses the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) as a data sharing standard and is using Global Justice XML when improving, updating or replacing an existing information system in the State. Arizona’s laboratory enhancement projects are extremely vital component of the multistrategy, system-wide drug abuse and violent crime control strategy in the state. In FY 2006, $570,000 in federal formula grant funds, matching dollars, and state enhancement funds were expended on these projects to continue supporting criminalists at the Department of Public Safety and Tucson Police Department to process drugrelated forensic tests and examinations for law enforcement agencies throughout the State. In FY 2006, $2,718,349 in grant funds were awarded to the Administrative Office of the Courts to continue funding court related drug adjudication projects. This funding provides the court system with the ability to enhance projects throughout the state, including the superior courts in nine of Arizona’s 15 counties and the adult probation departments in Apache, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yavapai Counties, and the public defender in Gila and Maricopa Counties. This funding expands the effectiveness of the court adjudication process to levels required to expedite processing of additional drug and related violent crime case loads generated by enhanced multi-jurisdictional task force and tandem prosecution activities. Moving forward the ACJC will continue to use performance-based decision making by placing precious funding where the need is the greatest. During FY 2006 grant funds were directed at high-performing sites. Considering that federal grant dollars have been reduced drastically for the past two years, ACJC anticipates funding projects that demonstrate sustainability, and collaboration, meet goals and objectives and build infrastructure for information sharing in Arizona. During FY 2006 ACJC staff conducted on-site monitoring visits to 27 projects in 14 Arizona counties. The purpose of these visits was to review grantees progress toward their goals and objectives. Additionally, the grantees were informed of ACJC’s Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 2 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report movement toward performance based decision making. During the on-site monitoring visits, staff strongly encouraged grantees to develop sustainability plans, collaborate and network with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and partner with ONDCP Drug-Free Communities, Weed and Seed, and Community Methamphetamine Coalitions in their regions. ACJC staff presented project officials with copies of their counties data from the Arizona Youth Survey (AYS). The AYS replicates a model for assessing both the prevalence of substance abuse behavior in communities as well as looking at the underlying conditions associated with drug and delinquent behavior. In FY 2006 the AYS was administered in schools representing all 15 counties in Arizona. The 2006 AYS consists of data from 362 schools and 60,401 students in the 8th, 10th and 12th grade. The four substances that have the highest percentages of lifetime and previous 30 day use among those students surveyed are alcohol, marijuana, sedatives, and prescription drugs. The AYS also asked students if they participated in several types of anti-social and delinquent behavior in the past year. As a whole, the anti-social or delinquent behaviors students participated in most often were binge drinking, and being drunk or high at school. The rates of binge drinking have decreased since 2002. Unfortunately the rates of carrying a handgun and being suspended from school have increased over the same time period. By the Numbers In FY 2006: Arizona supported 101 projects and expended $13,456,808 in Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant funds, local matching funds, and state enhancement funds. Direct personnel costs made up 96.72 percent of the expenditures funding 218 positions statewide. Arizona’s 15 multi-jurisdictional drug task forces arrested 3,985 drug offense violators, of which 45% involved marijuana and 30% methamphetamine. Arizona’s multi-jurisdictional drug task forces seized 683,344 grams of cocaine, 14,707 grams of heroin, 261,796 grams of methamphetamine, 252,007 pounds of marijuana and 114,783 marijuana plants. Arizona’s tandem prosecution program convicted 24,725 drug, gang and violent crime related violators of which 30% involved marijuana and 26% drug paraphernalia and 21% methamphetamine. The combined efforts of the multi-jurisdictional drug task forces and tandem prosecution resulted in $19,576,626 in forfeited assets. Probation Services performed 53,032 random urinalysis tests on drug offenders on probation. Arizona’s forensic laboratories received 14,090 drug evidence samples for analysis, with 29,514 tests conducted on samples submitted by criminalists. Progress is being made towards complete disposition reporting with the Record Quality Index showing 68.5 percent of all criminal history records as complete with final disposition rendered posted for the 3 year period ending in 2003. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 3 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report About the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) is a statutorily authorized entity mandated to carry out various coordinating, monitoring and reporting functions regarding the administration and management of criminal justice programs in Arizona. In accordance with statutory guidelines, the Commission is comprised of 19 members who represent various elements of the criminal justice system in Arizona. Fourteen of the 19 Commissioners are appointed by the governor and are municipal, county or elected officials. The remaining five are state criminal justice agency heads. Appointed Commissioners serve for two years and terminate when the first regular session of the legislature is convened; they may be re-appointed. The ACJC was created in 1982 to serve as a resource and service organization for Arizona's 480 criminal justice agencies on a myriad of issues ranging from drugs, gangs, victim compensation and assistance to criminal record improvement initiatives. The ACJC works on behalf of the criminal justice agencies in Arizona to facilitate information and data exchange among state-wide agencies by establishing and maintaining criminal justice information archives, monitoring new, and continuing legislation relating to criminal justice issues and gathering information and researching existing criminal justice programs. ACJC Mission: To sustain and enhance the coordination, cohesiveness, productivity, and effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System in Arizona. Members of the Commission ● Robert Carter Olson, Chair: Pinal County Attorney ● Douglas L. Bartosh, Vice-Chair: Chief, Cottonwood Police Department ● Joseph Arpaio: Maricopa County Sheriff ● Duane Belcher: Chairperson, Board of Executive Clemency ● David K. Byers: Director, Administrative Office of the Courts ● Clarence Dupnik: Pima County Sheriff ● Jennifer Eckstrom: Mayor, City of South Tucson ● Tony Estrada: Santa Cruz County Sheriff ● Terry Goddard: Attorney General ● Daniel Hughes: Chief, Surprise Police Department ● Barbara LaWall: Pima County Attorney ● Tommie Cline Martin: Gila County Supervisor ● Richard Miranda: Chief, Tucson Police Department ● Ralph Ogden: Yuma County Sheriff ● David Sanders: Pima County chief Probation Officer ● Dora Schriro: Director, Department of Corrections ● Linda Scott: Former Judge ● Andrew P. Thomas: Maricopa County Attorney ● Roger Vanderpool: Director, Department of Public Safety Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 4 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Introduction Arizona’s southern border is contiguous with the Republic of Mexico. The favorable year-round mild weather provides an environment highly attractive to constant drug trafficking. Major drug trafficking organizations based in Mexico dominate the movement of cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine into and through Arizona from the Mexican States of Sonora and Sinaloa. Arizona’s multi-jurisdictional drug task forces have successfully seized many clandestine laboratories in the state. However, the “super labs” on the Mexican side of the border continue to be a problem. It is incumbent upon the state to maintain a vigorous active multi-jurisdictional drug task force complement to: ● Maintain pressure on drug import organizations and interdict the steady stream of drugs coming from the Mexico, and ● To vigorously address the problem of local drug law violators. While Arizona has its own problems with drug consumption, a large number of drug shipments are bound for cities and towns all across the United States. A substantial part of Arizona’s Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds continues to augment and support federal efforts to interdict these drug shipments, and to arrest and successfully prosecute those responsible for them. Arizona utilizes a multi-strategy approach to drug control with a broad spectrum of activities, including drug prevention, education, apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, treatment, forensic analysis, and detention of drug offenders. Arizona works to attack the problem of illicit drug trafficking at all levels throughout the state, on a system-wide basis. The focus is on identifying arresting, and successfully prosecuting and adjudicating drug law violators, and seizing the illicit drugs and assets derived from their unlawful activities. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Arizona Fast Facts Is the sixth largest state, incorporating 113,998 square miles. Shares a 389-mile border with Mexico. Ranks 18th in terms of the nation’s population: most of the state is considered rural, with two major populations centers Maricopa County (3,635,828), and Pima County. Experienced a 17.8 percent growth in population from 2000 to 2005 with the population growing to an estimated 5,939,242. Recent census figures list Arizona as the fastest growing state. Page 5 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Evaluation Plan Illicit drug production, transportation, marketing, distribution and consumption are world-wide economic activities. Consumption creates inherent community problems of altered behavior, including child abuse and neglect and increase in violent and property crimes that cost Arizonans billions of dollars. In developing programs and implementing projects that campaign against illicit drug abuse and related violence, it is imperative that ongoing evaluations are conducted to ensure that projects are properly implemented and have a high potential for success. The projects funded must be of sufficient value to justify the expense and must clearly impact the drug problem as a whole. In collaboration with the Arizona Statistical Analysis Center (SAC), performance measures are being developed to measure the success of projects. Statistical indicators are used as benchmarks to measure Arizona’s progress in its efforts to deal with drug abuse. While such benchmarks measure the progress of individual programs it is not always sufficient. Additional factors such as qualitative successes are also used to gauge overall achievement. The ACJC will continue to emphasize performance based decision making and placing precious funding where the need is the greatest. During FY 2007, a working group comprised of multi-jurisdictional drug task force commanders, prosecutors, and staff convened to determine factors to be used in the determination of a successful program. Included in this discussion was how the risk and protective factor model could be used to make sure funding is going to the area of greatest need. Data collected through the 2006 AYS that the working group will consider for FY 2007 programs are gang involvement, early initiation of problem behavior, intention to use substances, drug usage, and drug-related hospital discharge data. Considering that federal grant dollars have been reduced drastically over the last two years, ACJC anticipates funding projects that demonstrate sustainability, collaboration, meet goals, and objectives, demonstrate need based on the risk and protective factor model, and build infrastructure for information sharing in Arizona. The tables on the following pages show progress made toward the goals and objectives of Arizona’s multi-strategy drug control approach. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 6 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report FY 2006 Program Progress Goals Objectives Byrne Justice Assistance Program Progress Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Forces and Tandem Prosecution Projects: To reduce the availability and abuse of controlled substances, and related gang and violent crime activities through interdiction and prosecution of drug law violators. Provide statewide street, mid to upper-level narcotics investigative coverage. Multi-jurisdictional drug task forces (15). 3,985 drug law violator arrests. To dismantle drug trafficking organizations and criminal street gangs through aggressive, efficient enforcement and investigative operations. Increase the number of drug-dedicated law enforcement officers. Funded 59 positions. Increase multi-jurisdictional coordination, cooperation and information sharing. Multi-jurisdictional drug task forces share resources and information locally and with state and federal agencies to maximize statewide coverage. Increase the effectiveness of local law enforcement through the implementation of community and problem-oriented policing with a focus on drug related homicides, youth, and gang violence. Multi-jurisdictional drug task force personnel participate in school and community drug and gang education and prevention efforts. Provide statewide enhancement to help with convictions of drug offenders involved in the manufacture, trafficking, and use of drugs. Tandem prosecution projects (15) 24,725 drug, drug related gang and violent crime convictions. Increase the prosecutors. 44 prosecutors funded. To utilize state forfeiture law to deprive drug law violators of profits of their illicit activities. To reduce demand for controlled substances by holding those who unlawfully possess, sell or use illegal drugs accountable under the law. number of drug-dedicated Reduce the economic incentives inherent in drug trafficking by investigation, seizure, and forfeiture of illicit proceeds. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 narcotics agents/investigators Forfeited drug traffickers’ assets valued at $19,576,628. Page 7 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Goals Objectives Byrne Justice Assistance Program Progress Drug Court Adjudication Projects: To increase the courts ability to provide timely adjudication and enhance probation services for drug law offenders. To assist in the expeditious disposition of felony drug cases at a rate of 98% within 180 days of filing. Sufficient progress is being made with 78 percent of felony cases received for disposition is disposed of within 180 days. Expedite pre-trial services for drug offenders with charges pending by providing additional support services. 5 public defenders funded. To provide additional court divisions, judges, and related essential staff for Superior Courts in Arizona. 4 judges/commissioners, 10 court information processors, 1 substance abuse counselor. Expedite pre-sentence investigations of drug law violators to prevent the delay in sentencing. 2,129 offender pre-sentence reports were processed. Monitor drug offender probation activities via random urinalysis testing to enforce immediate sanctions or consequences for continued use of illegal drugs. 53,032 random urinalysis tests performed on probationers. Provide intensive comprehensive drug treatment and community supervision of drug offenders. 743 first time offenders received intensive drug treatment. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 8 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Goals Objectives Byrne Justice Assistance Program Progress Drug Offender Detention projects: To help county jails enhance their security and processing services to meet the growing need that has been created by intensive drug enforcement efforts. Ensure secure transportation services are provided for drug offenders to court arraignments. Detention programs (1). Encourage alternative sentencing programs for non-violent drug offenders which incorporate accountability and tracking components. Deferred sentencing treatment (8). Increase the quality, completeness and accessibility of Arizona’s criminal justice records system. Criminal Justice Records projects (10). Criminal Justice Records projects: Build an infrastructure that will allow for statewide automated integration of accurate criminal history records. Encourage automation and establishment of uniform procedures for reporting arrests and disposition information to the central repository. 1 detention officer funded. programs drug 10 adult probation officers funded. With new technology being implemented the Bureau of Justice Statistics report shows 68.5 percent of all criminal history records are complete with final disposition rendered and posted within 3 years for the period ending 2003. This is up from 56.6 percent reported at the end of 1999. Digital imaging software such as PictureLink and PositiveID technology (2). Automated Fingerprint Information Systems (AFIS) including Livescan units (6). Computer aided dispatch management systems (2). Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 to and records Page 9 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Goals Objectives Byrne Justice Assistance Program Progress Provide additional criminalists to analyze and examine evidence in the increased numbers of drug and violent offense cases generated by the enhanced statewide enforcement and prosecution strategy. Forensic Laboratories Projects (2). 10 forensic criminalists funded. To prevent backlogs and help provide timely, effective prosecution. The state crime laboratory had a 57 percent reduction in backlog cases over 35 days old. To conduct sophisticated, complex, highly technical investigations and analyses to assist drug violator investigations in a timely manner. 29,514 tests were conducted on samples submitted to the two laboratories’ projects. To allow law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies access to the laboratory results within a web-based laboratory information management system. 15 county attorney’s offices have online capabilities. Drug Forensic Analysis: To allow crime laboratories in the state to respond to the need for timely prosecution of drug and associated violent crime by assistance with timely analyses and presenting evidence in court. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 10 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Forces and Tandem Prosecution Programs In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) multi-jurisdictional drug task forces expended $2,015,107 in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds (Byrne/JAG), $671,704 in local cash matching funds and $1,653,092 in state enhancement funds, for a total of $4,339,903. These funds supported 15 multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, one in each of Arizona’s 15 counties. Chart 1 Chart 1 provides an overview of funding for the multi-jurisdictional drug task forces from FY 2003 to FY 2006. As noted in the chart, the program size in FY 2006 was reduced due to reduction in the federal funds available. Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force Program Size FY 2003 - FY 2006 $6,000,000 $5,005,946 $4,924,829 FY 2003 FY 2004 $4,964,795 $5,000,000 $4,339,903 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 Multi-jurisdictional Task Force Funding Source FY 2003 - FY 2006 FY 2006 The line graph shows as federal funds were reduced in FY 2006, the state enhancements funds increased to keep the program functioning at close to prior year funding levels. $4,000,000 F unding Lev el FY 2005 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 FY 2003 FY 2004 Federal Byrne/JAG FY 2005 State Enhancement FY 2006 Cash Match In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Arizona’s tandem drug task force prosecution projects expended $2,418,021 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds, $806,008 in local cash matching funds and $1,983,622 in state enhancement funds, for a total of $5,207,650. These funds supported 15 drug law violator prosecution and asset forfeiture projects in 13 County Attorney’s offices, one at the Tucson City Prosecutor’s Office and one at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 11 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Chart 2 Chart 2 provides an overview of the funding for the tandem drug prosecution projects from FY 2003 to FY 2006. Tandem Drug prosecution Program Size FY 2003 - FY 2006 $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,127,698 $5,061,426 $5,057,487 $5,207,651 FY 2005 FY 2006 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 FY 2003 Tandem Drug Prosecution Funding Source FY 2003 - FY 2006 FY 2004 The line graph shows as federal funds were reduced in FY 2006, the state enhancement funds have increased to keep the program functioning at close to prior year funding levels. $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 FY 2003 FY 2004 Federal Byrne/JAG FY 2005 State Enhancement FY 2006 Cash Match The goal of Arizona’s multi-jurisdictional drug task forces and tandem drug prosecution is to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs by apprehending and prosecuting persons who violate laws relating to the production, sale/distribution, transportation and possession of controlled substances, and who engage in drug and/or gang-related violent criminal acts; and to utilize state forfeiture laws to deprive drug traffickers of the profits of their illegal activities. The objectives are to provide state-wide street, mid to upper-level narcotics investigative coverage that inhibit, immobilize and dismantle drug trafficking groups and criminal street gangs involved in drug activities through aggressive, and efficient multijurisdictional drug task force enforcement and investigations; and to reduce the demand for illicit drugs by holding those who unlawfully possess, sell or use those illicit drugs accountable under innovative drug laws; and effectively use the state forfeiture laws to take drug-traffic generated assets and profits from those that violate laws relating to production, dale/distribution, importation, and transportation of illicit drugs. Drug enforcement efforts in Arizona are carried out by federal, state, county, and local agencies. Federal agencies active in these efforts include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); U.S. Department of Treasury, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF); U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. The Arizona Department of Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 12 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Public Safety (DPS) has statewide authority for drug investigations and a dedicated narcotics division. Fifteen county sheriff’s departments have dedicated full-time officers to drug investigations. Multi-jurisdictional drug task force formation has resulted in 45 police departments with a least one full-time officer assigned to drug investigations. The numerous multi-agency investigative task forces operating on a statewide basis throughout Arizona have been a major enhancement to individual agency or department efforts. All participants support the task force concept, it has proven to enhance interagency cooperation while achieving a much broader scope of coverage at an affordable cost. In addition, task forces can combine specialty functions from different agencies into a unified effort, resulting in higher impact operations. The tandem drug prosecution concept in Arizona is carried out by the U.S. Attorney, the Arizona Attorney General, the county attorneys and municipal prosecutors in Arizona’s two largest cities, Phoenix and Tucson. The U.S. Attorney prosecutes violators of federal drug laws and pursues asset forfeiture actions related to federal drug violations. The Arizona Attorney General is involved in civil forfeiture actions and money laundering resulting from drug cases and is also involved in selected special criminal prosecutions of drug law violators. The county attorneys prosecute violations of state drug laws and pursue asset forfeiture actions related to drug law violations. City or municipal prosecutors in some municipalities are involved in drug prosecutions at the misdemeanor level as a result of county attorney declination policies or decisions and in asset forfeiture actions. As a result of multi-jurisdictional drug task force operations, many prosecutors are involved in investigative strategy and enforcement decisions early in the investigation. This has generated enhanced cooperation among law enforcement officers and prosecutors. The Arizona Attorney General’s Financial Remedies Unit is active in interjurisdictional asset forfeitures and money laundering actions and supplies assistance to federal prosecutors, county attorneys, municipal prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona and the United States. D ollars Tandem prosecution projects that also conduct civil asset forfeiture activities were responsible for the successful forfeiture of $19,576,626 in FY 2006 in seized non-drug traffickers’ assets. The success of Arizona’s civil asset forfeiture prosecutions is evident by a 25 percent increase in asset forfeitures since FY 2003 as shown in chart 3. Chart 3 The Attorney General’s Office Value of Non-Drug Forfeitures Financial Remedies Section has a permanent institutional tie with $25,000,000 Arizona’s multi-jurisdictional drug $19,576,626 $18,362,187 $20,000,000 task forces either by having a $16,780,298 $15,647,778 forfeiture prosecutor directly $15,000,000 assigned to the task force at their $10,000,000 location or by having a forfeiture $5,000,000 prosecutor located at the Attorney General’s office assigned to their $0 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 task force cases. The Financial Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 13 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Remedies Unit assists and coordinates responses from the multi-agency drug task forces by working with the Department of Financial Institutions (formerly the Banking Department), the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Arizona Forfeiture Association (AFA). The involvement in major statewide civil forfeiture actions and money laundering resulting from drug cases is a major contributor to the overwhelming success of the Asset Forfeiture component of the prosecution projects in Arizona. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 14 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Innovative Partnerships; Prosecutor, Child Protective Services and Adult Probation Department help Neglected Children Pinal County has seen an increase in the number of children who are being removed from their homes because their parents are using methamphetamine and neglecting the children's needs. This has become such a significant problem within the county that Child Protective Services (CPS) is having a difficult time finding places to put the children that they remove. During the past year the number of methamphetamine exposed births in Pinal County has risen to one or two for every 10 births. Pinal County Attorney’s Office was the second county in the state to adopt the Drug Endangered Children (DEC) protocol. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Additionally, the county attorney, working in conjunction with CPS and the Adult Probation Department, are charging parents with Class 4 felony child abuse when children are found in a drug house where at least one parent could possibly care for the child, and making it a term of their probation that they follow the CPS case plan. The probation lasts for 3 to 5 years, and includes drug treatment with 30-day inpatient stay. The County Attorney’s Office staff is reporting that this strategy is very successful. Page 15 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Drug Detention Program In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Arizona’s drug detention projects expended $17,644 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds, $5,881 in local matching funds and $14,474 in state enhancement funds, for a total $38,000. These funds supported one full-time court officer to track drug arrests, transport inmates to and from the detention facility and court, and provide support services to other court officials in Coconino County. Chart 4 Chart 4 provides an overview of the Drug Detention Program Size FY 2003 - FY 2006 funding for the drug detention projects from FY 2003 to FY 2006. $400,000 The goals of Arizona’s detention program is to help county jails enhance their inmate security and processing services by meeting the needs generated by the existence of multi-jurisdictional drug task forces and their tandem prosecution programs arrests and convictions that these projects produce. $350,000 $364,363 $364,363 $364,363 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $38,000 $50,000 $0 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 The objectives are to enhance resources required by county jails to supervise the additional inmates brought into the system for detention following the convictions that were supported by the statewide enforcement and prosecution strategy. In those areas of greatest need, it is crucial to enhance the staffing of county jails and ensure that drug offenders on probation are randomly tested through urinalysis. Detention services continue to be a vital component of Arizona’s Drug Enforcement Strategy since its implementation. With drug offense convictions resulting in 5,579 persons sentenced to jail time in FY 2006, enhanced funding has been necessary to alleviate the added pressure on the system. Over the last decade the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has seen the average daily population increase by sixty percent. The enhanced support has in the past funded eight detention officers, allowing Maricopa County to keep a housing facility operating. Due to the reduction in federal funding, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office found alternative funding sources to help alleviate the issue and did not apply for federal grant funds in FY 2006. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 16 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Drug Forensic Analysis Programs In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Arizona’s drug forensic analysis projects expended $364,663 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds, $88,221 in local matching funds and $217,116 in state enhancement funds, for a total of $570,000. The enhanced drug forensic funding at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) operating three regional laboratories supports nine criminalists and latent fingerprint examiners full–time to drug analysis support for Arizona’s multi-jurisdictional drug task force operations. The Tucson Police Department devoted one full-time criminalist devoted to drug analysis. Chart 5 Chart 5 provides an overview of the funding for the drug forensic Drug Forensic Analysis Program Size FY 2003 - FY 2006 analysis projects from FY 2003 to FY 2006. $700,000 The goal of Arizona’s forensic drug evidence analysis program is to allow existing crime laboratories in the state to respond to the need for timely prosecution of violent crime and drug law violators by assisting investigators with the timely analysis and presenting evidence in court. $597,605 $597,605 $597,639 $570,000 $600,000 $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 The objective is to provide additional criminalists to examine evidence and avoid backlogs and help conduct sophisticated, complex, and highly technical investigations in a timely manner due to the increased number of cases generated by the enhanced statewide strategy. Forensic support for drug investigations and prosecution in Arizona is provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s (DPS), three regional laboratories and one laboratory operated by the Tucson Police Department. The majority of the forensic work is done by the three regional state laboratories operated by DPS. Each of these facilities has a user’s committee consisting of representatives of the departments served by that laboratory. Chart 6 Sample Submission Trend FY 2004 - FY 2005 14,500 14,090 14,000 13,420 13,500 13,000 12,500 12,173 12,000 11,500 11,000 FY 2004 FY 2005 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 These laboratories received 14,090 drug evidence samples for analysis during FY 2006. As shown in chart 6 sample submissions have increased by 15.75 percent since FY 2004. Laboratory technicians conducted 29,514 tests on samples submitted during FY 2006. FY 2006 Page 17 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Chart 7 Drug Analysis FY 2004 - FY 2006 Drug evidence samples show an increase in the other 20,000 17,614 controlled substances where 12,887 13,981 12,821 13,839 13,114 15,000 meth is classified. Chart 7 indicates marijuana accounts 10,000 for the majority of 3,254 2,733 2,891 5,000 identifications, while cocaine is decreasing, which is not FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 surprising due to the steady Cocaine Marijuana Other Controlled Substance decline of cocaine seizures in the state. Marijuana analysis has remained relatively stable over the past two years, while other controlled substances have increased. As previously stated, methamphetamine analyses are included in this category. However, there is no clear evidence of a methamphetamine “epidemic”, since this category had a 1.7 percent increase from FY 2004 to FY 2006. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 18 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Drug Court Adjudication Programs In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Arizona’s drug court adjudication projects expended $1,262,186 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds, $420,729 in local matching funds and $1,035,434 in state enhancement funds, for a total of $2,718,349. The enhanced drug court adjudication funds provide services for Arizona’s criminal justice system. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) maintains administrative authority over 21 court-related activities receiving Byrne Justice Assistance Grants to accommodate increased caseloads resulting from the enhanced drug enforcement efforts in Arizona. The project provides a wide range of services to expedite the judicial process. These services could not have been provided without impacting other court services were it not for the grant assistance. Chart 8 Chart 8 provides an overview of the funding for the drug forensic analysis projects from FY 2003 to FY 2006. Drug Court Adjudication Program Size FY 2003 - FY 2006 $3,000,000 $2,727,635 $2,734,228 $2,668,422 $2,718,349 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 $2,500,000 The goal of Arizona’s drug court adjudication program is to increase the courts’ ability to adjudicate people accused of violating controlled substance laws, and enhancing probation services for drug law offenders. $2,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000 $500,000 $0 FY 2003 The objectives are to provide additional court divisions, judges and related essential staff for superior courts of greatest need in Arizona, and to provide support services where needed in the system to assist in the adjudication of illicit drug offenders due to enhanced drug enforcement and prosecution. The Arizona Superior court consists of 168 judges sitting in 15 counties. Since 1987 the criminal case activity in Arizona Superior Courts has increased steadily every year with increased filings and pending caseloads. Increased apprehension and prosecution due to the enhanced drug enforcement strategy in Arizona has impacted the already heavily burdened court system. The Arizona Drug Enforcement Strategy was developed as a system-wide enhancement providing the court component with enhanced funding to handle the increased work-load. Case statistics from these programs reflect the impact of Arizona’s aggressive drug enforcement activities. The Drug Court Adjudication program continues to be a vital component of Arizona’s state-wide, system-wide drug enforcement. Without the added funding provided by the program, the court system would be unable to handle the caseload generated by the highly productive multi-jurisdictional drug task forces and prosecution efforts. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 19 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report As chart 9 indicates the majority of the drug cases filed over the past three years were disposed of within 90 days of filing. Additionally, the number of drug cases being adjudicated has increased, but the disposition of the cases within 180 days has remained around 78 percent for the past two years. This indicates that Arizona is keeping up with the increased workload. Chart 9 Probation services for drug offenders are a service provided by the courts. During FY 2006 funding provided urinalysis testing to 53,032 offenders on probation as shown in chart 10. N u m b er o f C as e s Days to Dispositon for Drug Cases FY 2004 - FY 2006 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 FY 2004 1-90 Days 91-180 Days FY 2005 181-270 Days FY 2006 271-360 Days 361 + Days Chart 10 Drug Test Performed on Probationers FY 2004 - FY 2006 N um ber of T es ts 60,000 49,127 53,032 FY 2005 FY 2006 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 13,822 10,000 FY 2004 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 20 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report METH ADDICTED COUPLE MEET AND MARRY WHILE COMPLETING DRUG COURT Their’s is an unlikely love story. A little over three years earlier, both Jennifer and Clurral “Bucky” Buckingham were both homeless, unemployed and addicted to methamphetamine. Bucky was a hardcore addict who had violated both supervised and intensive probation when he was accepted into the Yuma County Drug Court in December 2002 (Yuma County Drug Court receives Byrne/JAG funding). Initially ordered to four months of residential treatment, Bucky had relapsed again and again. The judge finally put him on sink-or swim status, which meant no more chances. After more than 90 drug tests, 185 Alcoholic and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and many court sessions, he graduated Drug Court in August 2004. Jennifer, a courtesy Drug Court case from Maricopa County, was eight months pregnant and had two children with her when she reported to the Yuma County Drug Court in February 2003. After more than a year of counseling, 123 Alcoholic and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, 80 urinalysis tests, and constant court sessions, she graduated Drug Court in May 2004. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Jennifer and Clurral Buckingham met and married while attending Yuma County Drug Court. Both have remained clean for three years since graduation. This young couple met while attending Drug Court and was married shortly before Jennifer’s graduation. Bucky is working as a construction foreman and Jennifer is a stay-at-home mom raising three children. Both have been clean and sober for more than three years and are an inspiration to the community. Page 21 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Gerald Hardt Memorial Criminal Justice Records Improvement Programs In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Arizona’s criminal justice records improvement projects expended $297,240 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds, and $99,081 in local matching funds, for a total $396,320. The enhanced criminal justice records improvement funds supported 10 projects including the installation of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), Livescan workstations, case management and information systems for state, county and local agencies. Arizona has used National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) funds to leverage the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice Records Improvement program (CJRIP) funds by funding the National Instant Checks System (NICS) project that reduces the number of lapsed firearm background check requests by developing an automated system that will track NICS requests, send faxes and document to and from the FBI/NICS. The development of the Arizona Disposition Reporting System (ADRS) is part of Arizona’s overall Integrated Criminal Justice Strategy focuses on improving the state’s criminal history records. Chart 11 Chart 11 provides an overview of CJRIP Program Size the funding for the criminal justice FY 2003 - FY 2006 records improvement projects from FY 2003 to FY 2006. $660,503 $655,605 $700,000 $600,000 The long-term goal of Arizona’s $446,838 $500,000 criminal justice records improvement $400,000 program is to complete information r $300,000 systems integration within each city $200,000 and county in Arizona, to include law $100,000 enforcement, prosecutors and courts $0 and to provide two-way information FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 sharing among criminal justice agencies at the county level and the central state repository at the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). $396,320 FY 2006 The objectives are to develop a statewide, fully integrated distribution system in which each component or agency supports functions of other components. Horizontal integration at the local level allows criminal justice information to flow through automated systems among law enforcement, county attorneys, courts, and other essential local criminal justice agencies. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 22 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report The criminal justice records improvement programs receiving support funds have enabled state, county, and local law enforcement agencies to improve criminal justice records automation systems by the acquisition of hardware, software, and consultant expertise. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that the Record Quality Index (RQI) shows 68.5 percent of all criminal history records are complete with final disposition rendered and posted at the end of 2003. This is up from 56.6 percent reported at the end of 1999. AZAFIS Activities Tenprint Records Maintained Unsolved Latent Prints Tenprint Searches Completed Tenprint Hits Confirmed Latent Print Searches Complete Latent Search Hits Confirmed Applicant Fingerprint Cards Processed Applicant Clearance Cards processed FY 2004 FY 2005 % Change 1,494,203 1,627,438 8.9% 67,649 76,456 13.5% 415,905 443,083 6.5% 245,124 275,953 12.6% 20,495 21,988 7.3% 3,561 3,683 3.4% 143,960 88,680 153,897 99,623 Arizona’s Automated Fingerprint Information System (AZAFIS) maintains over 1.6 million tenprint records, a 9 percent increase from FY 2004. There were 443,083 tenprint searches performed, a 7 percent increase from FY 2004. 9.0% 12.3% Sex Offender Community Notification On June 1, 1996 Arizona adopted its version of "Megan’s Law" by enacting the Sex Offender Community Notification statutes. While records indicate that Arizona had laws regarding sex offender registration as early as 1939, never before has so much emphasis been focused on the sex offender population. The community notification process in Arizona is triggered by a sex offender’s release from jail/prison or sentence to probation. When this occurs, the respective county adult probation agency or Arizona Department of Corrections (DOC) is required to enter information about the offender into a statewide accessible database. One portion of this information involves the sex offender risk assessment. The risk assessment is a screening tool designed to provide criminal justice practitioners with the ability to predict a sex offender’s risk of recidivism. The Arizona risk assessment evaluates nineteen different criteria that have been identified by treatment experts as good predictors of future behavior. Each criterion is evaluated and assigned a point value, which ultimately is totaled for recommending an appropriate community notification level of 1, 2, or 3. Although probation agencies and DOC provide law enforcement agencies with a recommended community notification level, the local law enforcement agency may choose to complete its own risk assessment to ensure accuracy. Once the appropriate community notification level is established, the local law enforcement agency is required to complete a community notification in accordance with Arizona Revised Statute 13-3826. Law enforcement has complete discretion regarding community notification for Level 1 (Low Risk) offenders, however, state law requires Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 23 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report mandatory community notification on all offenders assessed as a Level 2 (Intermediate Risk) or Level 3 (High Risk). This includes notification to the "surrounding neighborhood, area schools, appropriate community groups, and prospective employers. The notification shall include a flier with a photograph and exact address of the offender, as well as a summary of the offender’s status and criminal background. A press release and a level two or three flyer shall be given to the local electronic and print media to enable information to be placed in a local publication." Level 1 sex offender community notifications decreased by 3.2 percent in FY 2005. However, Level 2 notifications increased by 86.6 percent and Level 3, increased 41.10 percent. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Sex Offender Notifications Level 1 Notification Level 2 Notification Level 3 Notifications FY 2004 FY 2005 % Change 124 120 -3.20% 532 1,009 86.60% 565 797 41.10% Page 24 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Under 10 K The creation of the new BYRNE/JAG program combined the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) program with the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Formula Grant Program. Forty percent of Byrne/JAG funding is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance directly to local units of government. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) set a $10,000 threshold for grants to units of local government eligible to receive an award. In FY 2006 (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) Arizona Criminal Justice Commission chose to review the requests of units of local government who did not qualify for the $10,000 plus threshold of direct BJA grants to apply to the Commission for funding. The ACJC expended $132,493 in Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds, and $46,647 in local matching funds to support 38 programs at these local agencies for a total of $186,586. With further reduction in Byrne/JAG funds for FY 2007, the ACJC members decided to direct the resources to multi-jurisdictional drug task forces and tandem prosecution programs. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 25 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Drug Availability Cocaine Number of Arrests Cocaine is readily available throughout Arizona. The largest quantities for sale are found in the metropolitan areas of Tucson and Phoenix. Task forces operating in smaller communities have seen an increase of cocaine in affluent communities such as the Prescott tri-city area and Sedona. Crack is readily available in Arizona’s inner cities and in some small communities. Crack retails for an average price of $10-$20/rock. Powder cocaine retail prices average $25-$30/gram. Chart 12 As shown in chart 12 Arizona’s Cocaine Arrests multi-jurisdictional drug task force FY 2004 - FY 2006 data shows an overall decline in cocaine arrests for FY 2006, 9 of 15 1,000 895 task forces reported an increase in 800 arrests over FY 2005. The Counter 656 600 Narcotics Alliance Group (CNA) 400 operating in the greater 293 200 Tucson/Pima metropolitan area reports that 49 percent of the arrests in FY 2006 were attributable FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 to cocaine. The task forces operating along the Arizona–Mexico border is responsible for the majority of trafficking seizures. The Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) operating at Arizona’s southwest border is responsible for the majority of the cocaine seizures in FY 2006 at 242,763 grams (more than 535 pounds). The Cochise County Border Alliance Group (BAG), Santa Cruz County METRO and CNA task forces operating along the remaining border was responsible for 238,545 grams, more than 525 pounds. These task forces are the first line of defense in border drug trafficking operations. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Chart 13 Cocaine Seizures FY 2004 - FY 2006 2,000,000 1,798,175 1,500,000 Grams The Apache County Cooperative Enforcement Narcotics Team (ACCENT), Navajo County Narcotics Task Force (MCAT) and the Mohave Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET) operating along the eastwest Interstate 40, a major drug trafficking corridor, were responsible for the seizure of 165,238 grams, or more than 364 pounds of cocaine. Total cocaine grams seized in FY 2006 is 683,344 as shown in chart 13. 1,038,888 1,000,000 683,344 500,000 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 Page 26 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Chart 14 Although multi-jurisdictional drug task force data shows an overall Cocaine Convctions decline in cocaine arrests for FY FY 2004 - FY 2006 2006, the convictions are slightly above prior years as shown in chart 3,000 2,242 14. The majority of cocaine 2,500 convictions are being reported by 2,015 2,000 the Maricopa County Attorney’s 1,500 Office, the largest populated county 1,000 in Arizona. The large metropolitan 500 police departments in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and FY 2004 FY 2005 Glendale have their own narcotics bureaus that also present cases for prosecution to the County Attorney, in addition to multi-jurisdictional drug task force project. 152 KILOS OF COCAINE BURIED UNDER CABLE WIRE Interstate 40 runs across the country from North Carolina to California. Running though northern Arizona, this is one of the nation’s longest drug smuggling corridors. The Apache County Narcotics Task Force, funded through the Byrne/JAG program, routinely monitors this corridor for drug smuggling activities. In October 2005, a police officer stopped a Ford utility van for not having a visible license plate. The van was marked with a legitimate cable company logo. The driver and the passenger were questioned; they informed the officer that they were contractors based in California on their way to install cable in New Mexico. The officer’s suspicions were aroused. He was granted permission to search the vehicle. The task force’s narcotics dog Axa was brought in and she indicated an odor in the vehicle. Buried under 195 spools of cable wire, the officer found 152 kilos of cocaine with an Arizona market value of $1.8 million (more if the contraband had gotten to its Chicago Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 2,797 FY 2006 destination). The temporary California license plate the driver produced was fraudulent, as was the insurance documents and the cable company address. Axa, her handler and 336 lb (152.72 kg) of cocaine destined for the Chicago market. Page 27 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Marijuana Marijuana remains readily available and is considered the most widely used illegal drug throughout the state. Mexican produced marijuana retails for $65-$150/ounce. Domestically grown plants average about $500/pound. Chart 15 Arizona shows an overall increase in marijuana arrests for FY 2006 as shown in chart 15. An increase in arrests was 2,000 experienced by 12 of the 15 drug task 1,496 forces. The Santa Cruz METRO, 1,500 Cochise County Border Alliance Group 1,000 (BAG) and the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) reported the 500 largest percentage of arrest for this drug type at 64-69 percent of their FY 2004 overall arrests. These task forces operating along the border are the first line of defense in marijuana drug trafficking operations. Marijuana Arrests FY 2004 - FY 2006 1,538 1,673 FY 2005 FY 2006 In addition, those loads that make it past the border task forces may be intercepted by the Pinal County Narcotics Task Force that, in cooperation with tribal police, patrol reservation land that runs north of the U.S.-Mexico border along the western side of Interstate 10, drug trafficking route. Sixty-two percent of their arrests were for marijuana related offenses. Chart 16 Marijuana Seizures FY 2004 - FY 2006 300,000 Pounds 250,000 250,530 252,007 FY 2005 FY 2006 221,205 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 FY 2004 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 In FY 2006 the multi-jurisdictional task forces seized 252,007 pounds of marijuana as shown in chart 16. The Counter Narcotics Alliance (CNA) operating in the metropolitan Tucson area and along the interstate I-10 and I-19 drug trafficking routes was responsible for the seizure of 119,350 pounds of marijuana. The border task forces seized over 97,509 pounds of marijuana. Page 28 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Chart 17 Arizona had a large increase in marijuana plants in FY 2006 as shown in chart 17, due to ideal growing conditions this past year. The Gila County Narcotics Task Force concentrates on marijuana discovery and eradication activities from April to September each year. They have few arrests doing these activities as those who tend the marijuana groves quickly disappear into the forest when discovered. Marijuana Plant Seizures FY 2004 - FY 2006 140,000 114,783 120,000 P la n ts 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 20,527 13,728 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 Chart 18 Just like marijuana arrests, convictions show an increase over the previous year as shown in chart 18. The majority of the marijuana convictions being reported are from Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. These convictions are presented for prosecution by narcotics bureaus within the police departments in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Mesa in addition to the multi-jurisdictional drug task force projects. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Marijuana Convictions FY 2004 - FY 2006 8,000 7,000 7,222 6,371 6,101 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 Page 29 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report MARIJUANA GROWS IN THE COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST The danger of marijuana in Arizona’s backcountry is not smoking it, but stumbling across it. If a hiker had stumbled upon the kind of marijuana farm that the Gila County Narcotics Task Force shut down in the Calf Pen Canyon area of the Coconino National Forest in August, 2005, there may have been a tragedy. The task force, funded through the Byrne/JAG program, had observed people patrolling the area with Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 assault rifles. The task force kept it under surveillance, then moved in and made four arrests. The backcountry marijuana groves most often are placed in rough hard-to-access wilderness areas that have a water supply. This was one of the largest growing operations found in Arizona; the task force removed 102,439 marijuana plants valued at $84 million from a six-mile area. Marijuana growing among trees in the Coconino National Forest. Page 30 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Heroin Black tar heroin is the predominant type of heroin found in Arizona. Mexican produced black tar retails for $60-$80/gram in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and slightly higher in Tucson. Chart 19 Arizona shows a slight increase in Heroin Arrests heroin arrests for FY 2006 as shown in FY 2004 - FY 2006 chart 19. An increase in heroin 74 80 arrests was experienced by 7 of the 66 70 15 drug task forces. The Cochise 60 50 County Border Alliance Group (BAG) 41 40 and the Yavapai County’s Partners 30 20 Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) 10 reported the largest percentage of 0 arrest for this drug type at 3 percent FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 of their overall arrests. In FY 2006 the Cochise County Border Alliance Group (BAG) operating along the southeastern U.S.-Mexico border area was responsible for the majority of the heroin seized which was 7,349 grams. The Counter Narcotics Alliance (CNA) reported the seizure of 2,445 grams. The majority of heroin is seized along the U.S.-Mexico border by those task forces operating in these areas. Chart 20 Heroin Seizures FY 2004 - FY 2006 60,000 55,547 Grams 50,000 40,000 30,000 14,707 20,000 In general heroin in small amounts have been seized in Arizona as shown in chart 20. Heroin is not the major drug problem or the current illicit drug of choice. 10,007 10,000 FY 2004 FY 2005 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 FY 2006 Page 31 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Chart 21 Heroin Convictions Although multi-jurisdictional drug FY 2004 - FY 2006 task force data shows a slight 277 increase in heroin arrests for FY 300 2006 as shown in chart 21, the 250 198 193 convictions are slightly above prior 200 years with the majority of the 150 heroin convictions being reported 100 from Maricopa County Attorney’s 50 Office. These convictions are 0 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 presented for prosecution by narcotics bureaus within law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Mesa in addition to the multi-jurisdictional drug task force projects. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 32 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Other Drugs The abuse of prescription drugs and over the counter medications such as oxycodone products (i.e. OxyContin® and Percocet®), hydorcodone products (i.e. Vicodin®) and phentermine, over the counter drug medication and steroids continue to be a problem in the state. Chart 22 Arizona shows a decrease in Other Drug Arrests in FY 2006 as shown in chart 22. Seven of the 15 task forces operating in the rural counties of Arizona experienced an increase in arrests. In some of these rural counties other drugs represent 13 to 20 percent of all their illicit drug arrests. Other Drug Arrests FY 2004 - FY 2006 700 600 500 607 493 398 400 300 200 100 0 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 Chart 23 Other Drug Seizures FY 2004 - FY 2006 1,117,686 1,200,000 D o s a g e U n its 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 409,420 180,271 200,000 In FY 2006 over 1 million dosage units of other drugs were seized by the Tucson metropolitan areas County Narcotics Alliance (CNA). The balance of seizures came from Arizona’s rural narcotics task forces as shown in chart 23. FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 The 2004 Partnership Attitude Tracking Survey (PATS) conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, shows that teenagers are abusing a variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to get high. ACJC’S 2006 Arizona Youth Survey (AYS) indicated that illicit use of prescription drugs ranked third behind alcohol and marijuana use among Arizona’s 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 33 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Methamphetamine Mexican–produced methamphetamine is the predominant form found in Arizona. Methamphetamine retail prices average $40-$50/gram. Arizona multi-jurisdictional drug task force data shows an overall decline in methamphetamine arrests for FY 2006 as shown in chart 24. Chart 24 Methamphetamine Arrests FY 2004 - FY 2006 1,600 1,366 1,400 1,200 1,184 The Northern Arizona METRO Task 1,000 Force and the Navajo County Major 800 600 Crimes Apprehension Team (MCAT) 400 operating in Arizona’s rural 200 communities of Coconino and Navajo Counties have seen an FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 increase methamphetamine arrests over FY 2005. The 13 remaining task forces show a decline in arrests for this drug type in FY 2006. The Northeastern Arizona Narcotics Task Force reports that 67 percent of all arrest attributed to methamphetamine down from 73 percent in FY 2005. The Greenlee County Narcotics Task Force reports 52 percent of all arrests were for methamphetamine down from 79 percent in FY 2005. The MCAT reported 57 percent of their arrest were attributed to methamphetamines. 1,011 Chart 25 Methamphetamine Seizures FY 2004 - FY 2006 350,000 G ram s 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 317,516 261,796 206,231 100,000 50,000 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 Overall, the seizures of methamphetamines are down slightly from FY 2005, as shown in chart 25. Santa Cruz METRO task force and the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) operating at Arizona’s border was responsible for the seizure of over 105,197 grams, or 232 pounds, methamphetamine in FY 2006. The Counter Narcotics Alliance (CNA) operating in the metropolitan Tucson area was responsible for the seizure of 120,283 grams, or over 265 pounds, of methamphetamine in FY 2006. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 34 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Although multi-jurisdictional drug task force data shows an overall decline in methamphetamine arrests for FY 2006 as shown in chart 26, convictions are above prior years. The majority of the methamphetamine convictions are being reported from Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. These convictions are presented for prosecution by narcotics bureaus within law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Mesa in addition to the multijurisdictional drug task force projects. Ripped from the Headlines Pile of guns and drugs seized by Police After one year investigation, a major narcotics dealer in Navajo County is arrested. The Winslow Mail – 3/22/2006 NAVAJO COUNTY – What would Jesus Malverde do? In Winslow, his image was found presiding over an estimated $10,000 - $15,000 in crystal meth, cocaine and crack cocaine in a home. Adorning this shrine, now in the possession of the Navajo County Major Crimes Sheriff’s Office Apprehension Team (MCAT) were: seven handguns, five rifles with a .22caliber 100 round drum magazine, stolen ID cards, paraphernalia, and some silver coins. Local law enforcement was planning to bring in a Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Chart 26 Mehamphetamine Convictions FY 2004 - FY 2006 6,000 5,091 5,000 4,000 3,293 3,404 FY 2004 FY 2005 3,000 2,000 1,000 FY 2006 Phoenix SWAT team for this bust because they were expecting a shootout, but they saw an opportunity to avoid the violence and ended up arresting Richard Lucero, 54, while he was washing his Chevy Blazer at a local car wash. Mr. Lucero, a 30-year Winslow resident, used to be a plumber at the prison near town. "He had said when he quit that he wanted to go to town to make more money," said Ed Fieser, assistant warden at Winslow prison. Lucero will be facing 15 counts of class 2 felonies, which include the possession, sale, and transport of dangerous narcotics. Full article available at www.winslowaznews.com. Page 35 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Clandestine Laboratories in Arizona Clandestine methamphetamine labs can be assembled almost anywhere and are frequently found in cars, apartments, motel rooms, and camping sites. Arizona multi-jurisdictional drug task force data shows a decline in clandestine laboratories seized in Arizona as shown in chart 27, due in part to new city ordinances on retailers, requiring them to place pseudophedrine behind the counter, and the increase in production by super-labs operating south of the U.S. - Mexico border. These super-labs produce a higher quality meth that is relatively inexpensive to purchase in Arizona. Chart 27 Clandestine Laboratory Seized FY 2004 - FY 2006 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 38 40 20 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 Arizona law requires that meth-labs be cleaned up at the expense of the property owner. A notice is posted stating the action the property owner must take to remediate the property. The property owner may not sell or rent the property until cleanup is complete. The Arizona Board of Technical Registration has developed standards that companies must comply with in order to be on a list of approved cleanup firms. However, these laws do not include property such as vehicles, mobile homes, sheds, motel rooms, and chemical dump sites. The cleanup of these types of properties may be done at taxpayer expense if at all. Each pound of methamphetamine produced leaves behind 5-7 pounds of toxic waste. Disposal of these chemicals such as acids and other toxic substances cost Arizona $4.1 million from 2000-2005 according to Arizona’s Meth Crisis 2006, published by the Arizona Attorney General. In FY 2006 the multi-jurisdictional drug task forces requested clean up of 8 meth-labs, additionally, 1 toxic chemical dump site was discovered. Twenty methamphetamine labs were seized, 2 of these labs involved minor children, and 41,734 grams of precursor chemicals were removed by the 15 multi-jurisdictional drug task forces operating in Arizona. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 36 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL COOPERATION HELPS WITH METH LAB SEIZURE Cooperative efforts among multijurisdictional law enforcement agencies cross state boundaries. Detectives from the Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), funded through the Byrne/JAG program, were contacted and informed by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department that they had arrested two individuals from the Kingman area. The people arrested were in possession of a half an ounce of methamphetamine and $20,000 in cash and had sales receipts for chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine. Search warrants were issued for the suspects’ residences, several manufactured homes on a 47–acre parcel of land in Kingman, Arizona. Law enforcement officers found an operational methamphetamine lab. MAGNET seized a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine, pseudoephedrine and other pre-cursor chemicals. Aerial view of meth-lab in Mohave County, Arizona multi-agency approach so successful. Property seized during this investigation included $140,000 in cash, three vehicles, two trailers, and miscellaneous items totaling more than $200,000 in value. Four suspects were arrested for producing large amounts of methamphetamines in Mohave County, Arizona, which was being transported and sold in Las Vegas, Nevada. Further investigations revealed this operation was tied to a similar operation uncovered by MAGNET one year prior, which also involved multiple arrests. On a related note, four months later MAGNET was notified by Las Vegas Metro Police Department that some of the subjects involved in the original case were planning to break the meth cook out of the Mohave County Jail. The conspirators planned to kill the transport officer while on the way to the courthouse for sentencing. MAGNET, in cooperation with the FBI, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Kingman Police Department, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted surveillance during the transport. They arrested six individuals for attempting to break the meth cook out of jail. Crystal methamphetamine removed from the lab by officers in protective clothing. This investigation required the multijurisdictional, multi-agency cooperation of 30 narcotics agents from eight law enforcement agencies. This cooperation is what makes the multi-jurisdictional, Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 37 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Ripped from the Headlines New law targets meth manufactures who endanger kids Arizona Daily Star – 08/25/2005 PIMA COUNTY - A milk carton storing chemical waste lurking in the refrigerator. Food served on plates also used to “cook” meth in a microwave. Physical contact with skin-burning acid, a meth ingredient. These are some of the dangers Pima County kids live with in homes ruled by an adult’s dependence on methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that’s cheap to manufacture at home. Some of these dangers could result in physical injury to children – and that’s a new crime punishable by up to life in prison, under an Arizona law that took effect this month. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Pima County will prosecute people under the law when there is evidence meth manufacturing caused physical injury to a child, such as a burn or an injury from swallowing a toxic chemical. “It sends a message to these people, if you’re going to do this, keep your children out,” said County Attorney Barbara LaWall. “Kids around meth labs have no protection, typically victims of some level of neglect. They’re dirty, in dirty diapers, crawling around in an unsafe environment,” said Counter Narcotics Alliance (CNA) Captain David Neri. Full article available at www.azstarnet.com. Page 38 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report State Methamphetamine Initiatives On February 12-14, 2006, Governor Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard hosted a solution-focused conference: Addressing the Methamphetamine Problem in Arizona -Enforcement, Prevention and Treatment - A Call to Action. The conference focused on developing multidisciplinary approaches to addressing the impact of methamphetamine in Arizona. The conference marked a milestone in Arizona’s fight against meth by bringing over 600 participants to action including local business, law enforcement, treatment, and prevention professionals. This conference also served as an initial meeting of the states 22 newly formed antimethamphetamine coalitions that received $1.6 million in funding and technical assistance from the Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention and the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families to develop and implement community based environmental prevention strategies over the next three years. The need for comprehensive approaches to address the methamphetamine crisis in Arizona includes the following recommendations to be developed based on information and Public Policy Forum at the conference. ● Implement Environmental Prevention Strategies. Environmental prevention strategies are prevention efforts that aim to change or influence community standards, institutions, structures, and attitudes that shape individual behaviors. ● Engage every sector of local communities through community coalition building to employ an environmental approach to address the methamphetamine problem. ● Increase awareness methamphetamine problem. and educate the public about the growing ● Expand substance abuse prevention efforts in K-12 education. ● Restrict and monitor the sale of precursor chemicals. ● Expand access to and implementation of evidence-based treatment models. ● Involve the whole family in the treatment approach. ● Enhance child treatment approaches. Evidence-based treatment models may include psychosocial approaches, community reinforcement, contingency management (drug court involvement), relapse prevention, and the Matrix Model. ● Expand access to services for families involved in child welfare and substance abuse. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 39 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report ● Expand access to substance abuse treatment for people engaged in the justice system. ● Build into the treatment approaches accountability guidelines for behavioral benchmarks. These include verified abstinence, stable sleep patterns, stable eating patterns, stable daily living patterns, participation in treatment, and electronic monitoring. ● Enhance education opportunities for the medical community. ● Establish Interdiction Task Forces. ● Expand implementation of the Drug Endangered Children (DEC) protocol. ● Expand implementation of Drug Courts in Arizona. ● Support efforts to increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into Arizona. ● Ensure that all first responders receive training on the dangers of clandestine methamphetamine labs and have proper training. The Governor’s Methamphetamine Task Force At the Call to Action conference Governor Napolitano announce the formation of a statewide Methamphetamine Task Force that would have the primary objective of developing an innovative comprehensive and coordinated strategic action plan that will focus on reducing the harms and consequences associated with the manufacturing, distribution, and use of methamphetamine on children, families, and communities across Arizona. The Methamphetamine Task Force is a diverse group of people from law enforcement, treatment providers, courts, health services, physicians, business people, concerned citizens, including recovering addicts. It has met monthly since September 2006 and has utilized the expertise of national consultants in analyzing data, conducting a gap analysis, and assessing needs and resources. On January 10-11, 2007 the Governors Office of Children, Youth and Families and the Arizona Methamphetamine Task Force will host a Strategic Action Planning Summit to include representatives from the legislature, boards of supervisors, local antimethamphetamine coalitions, law enforcement, behavioral health, child welfare, businesses, community service organizations, and concerned citizens. This planning session will be used to create the Arizona statewide comprehensive strategic plan. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 40 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report HB 2554 Methamphetamine Interdiction Funds House Bill 2554 appropriated $3 million from the state general fund in FY 2007 to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for distribution based on population to each of Arizona’s 15 county board of supervisors for increased methamphetamine interdiction efforts including training, prosecution, abuse treatment, or education programs. Each county is to asses and use these funds in their communities as needed. In addition, the house bill also appropriated $2.5 million to establish the addiction reduction and recovery fund for the purpose of funding drug and alcohol abuse services and prevention programs, including programs for methamphetamine abuse services and prevention through regional behavior health authorities in the state. This fund is administered by the director of the Department of Health Services. Drug Endangered Children Program (DEC) In the State vs. Brown (March 2005) the defendant was sentenced to 23.25 years in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of children. The sentence received related to two separate cases. This first incident occurred in December 2002 and involved the defendant’s own four children. The second incident occurred just over one year later in January 2004 and included the defendant’s girlfriend’s children. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dennis Dairman called the danger of exposing six children to methamphetamine, one of whom had Downs Syndrome, and the lack of adequate remorse as factors in sentencing Brown. The Arizona DEC program was established in 2000 to address the problems associated with methamphetamine production in homes where children are present. The children who live in and around meth labs are at the greatest risk of harm due to the abuse and neglect perpetrated on them by their caretakers. The DEC Program is a multidisciplinary approach that ensures that agencies involved in seizing clandestine methamphetamine laboratories have immediate access to qualified personnel who can respond immediately to the potential health needs of any children who are present or living at the site. The protocol includes procedures for taking children into protective custody and arranging for protective services, immediately testing them for methamphetamine exposure, conducting medical and mental health assessments, and ensuring short and long-term care and follow up. This coordinated, multidisciplinary team approach is critical to ensure that the needs of child victims are met and that adequate information is available to prosecute drug and child abuse cases successfully. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 41 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Substance Use Among Arizona Youth The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) in collaboration with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Education, the Department of Health Services, and the Office of Problem Gambling conducted a statewide survey to assess risky behavior – such as the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other dangerous drugs – among Arizona 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in 2006. The study is legislatively mandated to measure attitudes, prevalence, and frequency of substance abuse among children in the state. The 2006 Arizona Youth Survey (AYS) was administered in schools representing all 15 counties in Arizona. The 2006 AYS consisted of data from 362 schools and 60,401 students. Alcohol continues to be the most used substance among youth in Arizona across all grades, with 50.4 percent of 8th graders, 67.6 percent of 10th graders, and 74.5 percent of 12th graders reported having drank alcohol at least once in their lifetime. For substance use in the 30 days prior to taking the survey, alcohol was the most widely used, with 24.1 percent of 8th graders, 39.2 percent of 10th graders, and 47 percent of 12th graders having drank alcohol at least once in the 30 days before taking the survey. The four substances that have the highest percentages of lifetime and 30 days use are alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, and sedatives. Generally the results show that the rate of substance use among youth tends to increase as a youth’s age increases. As can be seen in tables 1 and 2, the only exception to this pattern are the rates of inhalant use, which actually decreases as youth gets older. Chart 28 on page 43 shows the usage rates of the six highest used drugs by gender. The rates of substance use for males and females are generally similar to one another. Surprisingly, for some drugs girls report slightly higher rates of use than boys. For more information and to read the complete report go the ACJC web site at: http://azcjc.gov/pubs/home/2006_AYS_State_Report_Final_110706.pdf Table 1: Percentage of Arizona Students Who have Used Drugs in Their Lifetime Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Sedatives Stimulants Ecstasy Heroin Methamphetamines Steroids Prescription Drugs 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade 50.4 67.6 74.5 30.8 43.8 50.0 8.0 11.8 15.6 18.3 34.0 42.6 15.2 11.9 9.8 2.1 4.1 5.6 3.6 7.6 11.6 10.0 14.3 17.4 3.4 7.1 8.5 1.9 3.4 4.4 1.4 2.1 2.8 2.6 5.0 6.6 1.6 2.0 2.2 9.8 16.0 20.0 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Total 61.7 39.6 11.0 29.2 12.9 3.6 6.8 13.2 5.9 3.0 2.0 4.3 1.9 14.3 Table 2: Percentage of Arizona Students Who Have Used Drugs in the Past 30-Days Alcohol Cigarettes Smokeless Tobacco Marijuana Inhalants Hallucinogens Cocaine Sedatives Stimulants Ecstasy Heroin Methamphetamines Steroids Prescription Drugs 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade 24.1 39.2 47.0 10.5 17.1 21.8 2.7 4.0 5.4 8.5 15.7 18.1 6.2 3.1 1.7 1.0 1.7 1.7 1.7 2.9 3.3 4.5 6.6 7.1 1.5 2.9 2.6 0.8 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.7 1.4 0.8 1.0 1.0 4.5 7.3 8.1 Total 34.4 15.3 3.8 13.1 4.1 1.4 2.5 5.8 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.3 0.9 6.3 Page 42 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program FY 2006 Annual Report Percentage of students who have used ATODs Chart 28 Lifetime and 30-Day Usage by Gender 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 Li f eti me Al cohol Li f eti me Li f eti me Li f eti me Mar i j uana Inhal ants Sedati ves Li f eti me Li f eti me Methamph Pr escr i pti etami nes on Dr ugs 30-Day Al cohol 30-Day 30-Day 30-Day Mar i j uana Inhal ants Sedati ves 30-Day 30-Day Methamph Pr escr i pti etami nes on Dr ugs Mal es 60.2 31.1 11.6 11.0 3.7 12.9 33.9 15.0 3.7 5.1 1.2 6.0 Femal es 62.9 27.3 14.0 15.1 4.9 15.4 34.8 11.5 4.5 6.5 1.4 6.4 Arizona Criminal Justice Commission 1110 W. Washington, Suite 230 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 ● (602) 364-1146 Page 43