Since 1989, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has received Federal funding to document the nature and extent of drug and violent crime in Illinois and the criminal justice response to such offenses. As such, funded programs statewide provide monthly data reports to the Authority. The data indicate that in 2002, 196 local Illinois police agencies participated in 1 of the 21 MEG's or task forces throughout the State. The violent Index rate was higher across jurisdictions covered by MEG's and task forces than it was in jurisdictions with no MEG or task force participation. Participation in MEG's or task forces was associated with an increase in agency drug arrests. Between 1993 and 2002, MEG's and task force officers were responsible for 14 percent of drug arrests within covered jurisdictions. Moreover, MEG's and task forces targeted and arrested the most serious drug law violators during 2002, particularly offenders of the Controlled Substances Act which involve mainly felony-level offenses. In rural areas, MEG's and task forces arrested a disproportionate share of drug offenders when compared with MEG's and task forces in more urban regions of the State. Between 1993 and 2002, local police agencies were responsible for arresting the majority of drug possession offenders, while MEG's and task forces completed 72 percent of all drug sale or delivery arrests. In terms of specific types of drugs, between 1993 and 2002 there was an increase in the amount of cannabis and cocaine seized by MEG's and task forces. Between 1994 and 2002, the amount of methamphetamine seized in MEG and task force covered jurisdictions increased 14-fold from 911 grams to 13,767 grams. Between 2000 and 2002, methamphetamine accounted for 20 percent of total illicit drug seizures by MEG's and task forces. Almost all drug arrests made by MEG's and task forces between 1991 and 2002 were accepted for prosecution and 73 percent of all drug offenders arrested by MEG's and task forces were convicted. During 2002, 45 percent of those arrested by MEG's and task forces were sentenced to a term of imprisonment, 43 percent received probation, and 12 percent received jail terms. Figures, maps, appendix, bibliography