County Attorney Explains How They Prioritize Drug Crimes in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office filed 17 new felony complaints this week. According to County Attorney Matt Jennings, there were eight crimes of violence against other persons. 

“We had one endangerment crime, which is a felony DUI of a person actually driving into an active crime scene,” Jennings said. “We had three property crimes, and we had five drug crimes. We have also been seeing another uptick in methamphetamine. There's been a little bit of a drop off in some of the fentanyl that we've seen popping up over the last five years. We have seen a lot more methamphetamine circling back around.” 

When it comes to drug use, his office focuses on the impact it has on the rest of society or the community. 

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“We realize a lot of people struggle with substance abuse, and even if it's illegal, we generally try to prioritize people's personal health and rehabilitation when they're not hurting other people,” Jennings said. “But when I mentioned drug crimes, most of these folks are actually found in a situation where there are other crimes being committed. Maybe they're the ones waiting in the getaway car while somebody else is burglarizing a property, or perhaps they're already on probation, or maybe Child Family Services went to do a home check on a child that was being neglected, and we found the parents were high or using drugs.” 

Jennings thinks it is really important for the community to know how they prioritize drug crimes. 

“We try to look at the impacts it has on society and how we can stop intergenerational trauma and violence and addiction,” Jennings said. “We've had some really great leaps forward in our community on things like establishing treatment courts. We have a domestic violence treatment court now as well, and some new rehabilitative options with inpatient drug treatment and outpatient treatment. We are trying to balance that accountability with rehabilitation, and I am really proud of this community.”

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Jennings said he will have a full 2025 crime report in the next few weeks. The Missoula County Attorney’s Office provides a weekly crime report every Friday morning at 9:00 on Talk Back.