Public Safety and Substance Use TrendsJack Reed

October 9, 2020

Presentation to the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice

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Overview

● Drug Crime Trends○ Arrest Rates & District Court Filings○ Demographics○ Regional Trends

● Traffic Safety○ Traffic Fatalities○ Trends with DUI toxicology

● School Discipline

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SECTION 1

Drug Crimes Trends

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From: Lin, J. Flick, P., English, K. (2019). Exploring the Increase in District Court Filings in Colorado, 2013-2018. Colorado Department of Public Safety. https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2019-10_FelonyFilingsRpt_2013-2018.pdf

Drug Arrests and District Court Filings for Drug Possession Charges on the Rise in Colorado from 2013 - 2018

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https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2019-10_FelonyFilingsRpt_2013-2018.pdf

Percent of District Court Filings with Drug Possession Charges, Colorado, 2013-2018

From: Lin, J. Flick, P., English, K. (2019). Exploring the Increase in District Court Filings in Colorado, 2013-2018. Colorado Department of Public Safety. https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2019-10_FelonyFilingsRpt_2013-2018.pdf

32.5

23.9

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https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2019-10_FelonyFilingsRpt_2013-2018.pdf

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System.

Drug Seizures by Drug Category, Colorado, 2015-2019

5,8737,375

9,020 10,35910,662

5,001

5,882

6,3686,808 6,6765,734

5,495

5,6415,382 4,364

818

1,010

9941,025

1,045

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Other Drugs

Depressants

Hallucinogens

Marijuana/Hashish

Narcotics

Stimulants

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Drug Offenses by Drug Category, Colorado, 2015-2019

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System.

4,132

7,479

1,4231,670

1,746

2,665

6,329

4,571

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Amphetamine Cocaine Heroin Marijuana

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Drug Arrest Rates by Race/Ethnicity, 2015 - 2019

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System; Colorado Office of Demography.

209

109

870

455

298250

115

901

481

331264

152

946

535

361

277

146

987

567

357

256

123

941

514

338

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Hispanic or Latino White

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Black arrest rates are 2.8 times higher than whites

Hispanic arrest rates are 1.5 times higher than whites

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Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System; Colorado Office of Demography.

Drug Offense Rates by Age Group, 2015-2019

551

1,488

846

611

382

227

8013

422

1,071

711

933

726

332

159

170

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

10-17 18-20 21-24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 and over

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Marijuana Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System; Colorado Office of Demography.

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Amphetamine Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System; Colorado Office of Demography.

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Heroin Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System; Colorado Office of Demography.

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Cocaine Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019

Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Incident-Based Reporting System; Colorado Office of Demography.

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Traffic Fatalities

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Public Health Harms

Source: Colorado Department of Transportation. 15 of 33

Source: Colorado Department of Transportation.

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Drivers tested 340 343 400 414 461 452 423No substance 44% 41% 44% 43% 38% 40% 40%Single substance 41% 43% 39% 37% 40% 36% 37%Polysubstance 14% 16% 18% 19% 22% 24% 23%

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

N te

sted

driv

ers

% te

sted

driv

ers

Drivers Test Results in Fatal Crashes, 2013-2019

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Drivers Testing Positive for Delta-9 THC in fatal crashes, 2016-2019

3 23 45 7125 45 33 10324 23 37 8410 35 49 940

20

40

60

80

100

120

Present but less than 1 ng/Unknown 1 ng to

Driving Under the Influence

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Source: Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice (2019). Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol.

DUI Court Cases 26,255

Toxicology Record Matches:

16,943

Alcohol Screening

15,152

Marijuana Screening

5,032

Drugs of Abuse Screening

3,028

Colorado’s Linked DUI Court Case Dataset 2018

Data source: State Judicial Department, Denver County Court, CBI, and ChemaTox; Analyzed by: Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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727 5231,227

12,674, 84%

=> 0.08 BAC

Not Detected

Delta 9-THC Toxicology Among Cannabinoid Positive Drivers (n= 3,335), 2018

None Detected14%

Present but = 5ng/mL49%

Data source: State Judicial Department, Denver County Court, CBI, and ChemaTox; Analyzed by: Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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Source: Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice (2019). Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol.

37%

36%

17%

10%

THC Only

Alcohol and THC

THC and Other

Alcohol, THC and Other

Delta 9-THC Positive Drivers and PolydrugDetection, 2018

Data source: State Judicial Department, Denver County Court, CBI, and ChemaTox; Analyzed by: Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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Top 15 Other Drugs Found in DUI Charged Drivers, 2018Drug No. of Case Filings

Methamphetamine 747Cocaine 449Amphetamine 82

Stimulants Total 1,278Alprazolam 273Diazepam or Chlordiazepoxide 188Clonazepam 150Zolpidem 106Lorazepam 100Midazolam 17

Benzodiazepines Total 834Oxycodone 67Morphine 63Tramadol 42Codeine 35Heroin 33Hydrocodone 30

Opioid Total 270

Data source: State Judicial Department, Denver County Court, CBI, and ChemaTox; Analyzed by: Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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Source: Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice (2019). Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol.

DUI Conviction Rates by Single vs. Polydrug & THC Level, Colorado, 2018

62%

88% 89% 94%

88%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

THC Only,=5ng/mL

Overall DUI Conviction Rate

Data source: State Judicial Department, Denver County Court, CBI, and ChemaTox; Analyzed by: Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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Crash Involvement Among DUI Convicted Drivers, 2018

7%

21%25%

29% 29%

36%39%

26%

THC Only THC and Other Alcohol Only Alcohol and THC Single Other Drug Alcohol and Other Polydrug Not Alcoholor THC

Overall

Data source; Probation assessment data, Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health; Analyzed by: Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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Crash Involvement Among DUI Convicted Drivers, 2018

7%

21%25%

29% 29%

36%39%

26%

THC Only THC and Other Alcohol Only Alcohol and THC Single Other Drug Alcohol and Other Polydrug Not Alcoholor THC

Overall

Data source; Probation assessment data, Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health; Analyzed by: Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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Crash Involvement Among DUI Convicted Drivers, 2018

7%

21%25%

29% 29%

36%39%

26%

THC Only THC and Other Alcohol Only Alcohol and THC Single Other Drug Alcohol and Other Polydrug Not Alcoholor THC

Overall

Data source; Probation assessment data, Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health; Analyzed by: Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety.

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SECTION 3

School Discipline and Law Enforcement Contacts

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School Discipline Outcomes for Marijuana vs. Other Drug Violations, Colorado, 2016-2017 to 2018 - 2019 School Years

Source: Colorado Department of Education. 29 of 33

Source: Colorado Department of Public Safety; Division of Criminal Justice, https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ORS/Docs/Reports/2020-HB15-1273-StudentContacts.pdf

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Criminal Justice System Feeling the Strain of the Public Health Drug Crisis● Increase in drug arrests and felony filings; rise in

methamphetamine seizures and arrests○ Increasing availability of treatment services and

diversion programs to this high risk population

● Alcohol and polysubstance impaired driving still a public health issue

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Monitoring school disciplinary Actions is important

● Marijuana violations are the primary reason for school suspensions, expulsions, and referrals to law enforcement○ Importance of intervening earlier with substance

use prevention efforts and promoting alternative disciplinary methods to reduce school-to-prison pipeline

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Questions & Contact Information

Jack Reed

jack.reed@state.co.us

Allison Rosenthal

allison.rosenthal@state.co.us

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mailto:jack.reed@state.co.usmailto:allison.rosenthal@state.co.us

Public Safety and Substance Use TrendsOverviewDrug Crimes TrendsDrug Arrests and District Court Filings for Drug Possession Charges on the Rise in Colorado from 2013 - 2018Percent of District Court Filings with Drug Possession Charges, Colorado, 2013-2018Drug Seizures by Drug Category, Colorado, 2015-2019Drug Offenses by Drug Category, Colorado, 2015-2019Drug Arrest Rates by Race/Ethnicity, 2015 - 2019 Drug Offense Rates by Age Group, 2015-2019Marijuana Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019Amphetamine Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019Heroin Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019Cocaine Offenses per 100,000 Residents by County, 2019Traffic FatalitiesPublic Health HarmsDrivers Test Results in Fatal Crashes, 2013-2019Drivers Testing Positive for Delta-9 THC in fatal crashes, 2016-2019Driving Under the InfluenceColorado’s Linked DUI Court Case Dataset 2018BAC Toxicology Results Among Screened Drivers (n=15,152), 2018Delta 9-THC Toxicology Among Cannabinoid Positive Drivers (n= 3,335), 2018Delta 9-THC Positive Drivers and Polydrug Detection, 2018Top 15 Other Drugs Found in DUI Charged Drivers, 2018DUI Conviction Rates by Single vs. Polydrug & THC Level, Colorado, 2018Crash Involvement Among DUI Convicted Drivers, 2018 Crash Involvement Among DUI Convicted Drivers, 2018 Crash Involvement Among DUI Convicted Drivers, 2018 School Discipline and Law Enforcement ContactsSchool Discipline Outcomes for Marijuana vs. Other Drug Violations, Colorado, 2016-2017 to 2018 - 2019 School YearsSlide Number 30Criminal Justice System Feeling the Strain of the Public Health Drug CrisisMonitoring school disciplinary Actions is importantQuestions & Contact Information