ILLINOIS CRIME RATE FALLS 3.6 PERCENT

Tough legislation regarding cold medications might cause annoyance at the
pharmacy, but in the trenches of Illinois' fight against crime, many credit
it with lowering that state's overall criminal activity in 2007.

In November, the Illinois State Police announced the state's overall crime
rate fell by 3.6 percent in 2007, with reports of homicide and motor
vehicle theft realizing the biggest decreases.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state reported a total of 456,085
indexed crimes in 2007, compared to 470,730 in 2006, according to the ISP's
Uniform Crime Report.

And locally, the trend seems to have followed throughout 2008.

"We haven't had near the meth lab problem that we had before," said Edgar
County Chief Deputy Shane St. Clair.

Methamphetamine abuse has been demonstrated to lead to other more violent
crimes as addicts are driven to fulfill their need, and St. Clair credits
the drop in numbers to laws requiring stores to track the sales of cold
medications such as Sudafed and limit quantities. "The drug arrest rate is
down," he said.

Robinson City Police Chief Bill Ackman agreed, noting a "significant drop
in meth labs" since the spike in 2000.

Ackman also credited that drop to legislation regarding Sudafed-type
medications, whose key ingredient, pseudoephedrine, is an active ingredient
in methamphetamine.

But as with any drop in one area, a rise is likely in another.

"It depends. It seems like you have certain crimes that maybe scaled down
some and then others that have increased," Ackman said.

The illegal use and distribution of prescription medication has "blossomed"
as a result of methamphetamine and other drugs being hard to come by, he said.

"That's one thing that's gone up," the police chief said, adding that in
related burglaries, thieves are bypassing electronics and even cash to head
straight for the home's medicine cabinet.

"In a lot of ways, it's safer and easier to get prescription drugs," Ackman
said, noting that addicts don't have to worry about getting ripped off or
what's in the concoction.

And the abuse, which police began tracking several years ago, has filtered
down from the 25 to 35-year-old bracket into the junior high schools.

"We're really going to try and hit that hard this year," he said of the
department's plans for 2009.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation in October which makes it
a class-4 felony "to attempt to possess, procure transport, store or
deliver a key meth ingredient," according to a media release issued by ISP
Director Larry Trent.

Class-4 felonies can carry a prison term of one to three years and/or a
fine of up to $25,000.

Other legislation noted includes the Methamphetamine Manufacturer Registry,
which provides anyone with Internet access the names, dates of birth,
nation of conviction and qualifying offenses of methamphetamine
manufacturers convicted on or after June 5, 2006.

According to the Illinois crime statistics, 973 methamphetamine labs were
seized in 2005, compared to 793 in 2006 and 446 in 2007.

St. Clair said that with the falling number of drug arrests, other areas do
seem to stand out more.

"I hate to say it, but it's criminal sexual abuse," he said in reference to
the big problem targeted by his agency. "It would be the child molestation."

On Dec. 11, St. Clair said the Edgar County Jail had six inmates out of 30
in custody for sex crimes, or 20 percent.

However, last year on the same date, the jail had 56 inmates.

"I think everything else is going down, so it's standing out," he said,
noting how the percentages jump as population drops.

"Our jail population right now is down. I'm not saying it isn't
overcrowded," he said, noting that even at 30 inmates the facility is in
excess of its 28-person capacity. "But we don't have near the people we did
this time last year."

Ackman also said sex crimes have "maintained" their levels since a spike
back in 2004 and 2005. And while the numbers aren't continuing to rise,
they aren't dropping much, either.

"It's definitely a problem," he said.

Statewide mapping capabilities showing names and addresses of those
registered with the Illinois Sex Offender Registry have increased since
updates were made in 2007.

The Web site now shows a map with a five-mile radius from a viewer's home,
and includes locations of schools and parks. Statewide Child Murderer and
Violent Offender Against Youth databases also have been created, according
to information provided by Trent.

And while St. Clair credited toughened legislation with helping law
enforcement, the success of lowered crime rates goes down to the trenches,
he said.

"I would hope to say that the patrolman out in the street, taking care of
business," he said of the drop's attribution.

Trent acknowledged the importance of the ground-level officers, as well.

"As pleased as I am with an overall decrease by 3.6 percent in the crime
rate and a decrease in every category, law enforcement must remain
diligent," Trent said. "Law enforcement cannot get complacent as a result
of this overall decrease. We must ensure that resources and manpower are
utilized effectively to maintain this trend."