Harnessing State Data: Exploring the Impact of Marijuana and Methamphetamine Related Crime on Criminal Justice Systems

• In Event: Understanding Drug and Violent Offenders

Abstract

In 2015 the Justice Research and Statistics Association was tasked by the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics with collecting, assessing, and analyzing data from the states (specifically, the state Statistical Analysis Centers) on marijuana and methamphetamine related criminal offenses in respect to marijuana legalization/decriminalization and the Bakken oil boom. Fifteen states were selected for this study, 11 in association with marijuana legislation and nine associated with methamphetamines and the Bakken oil boom (five of the states overlapped). The goal of this project was to gain a better understanding of the availability of data at the state, local and tribal level, which would allow for an assessment of how certain events (e.g., changes in drug policy and rapid population increases associated with economic booms) impact criminal justice resources. This presentation will focus on the process of, and challenges in, gathering and analyzing data housed across different criminal justice agencies - on behalf of both external researchers and state agencies. Lessons learned and recommendations will be discussed.

Authors

• Erin J Farley, Justice Research and Statistics Association

• Bailey Maryfield, Justice Research and Statistics Association