Drug Use at Arrest as a Predictor of Behavior on Probation: Final Report

• NCJ Number: 138850
• Date Published: 1990
• Author(s): E D Wish; B D Johnson; S Magura; M Cuadrado
• Length: 96 pages
• Grant Number(s): 85-IJ-CX-0025
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

A cohort sample of 200 male active probationers, who had been arrested and processed at Manhattan Central Booking in 1984, was used to examine how accurately the factor of drug use at arrest could predict probation behavior. Data were collected from the New York City and State Departments of Probation and the subjects' original urinalysis results and case information.

Abstract

The results showed that offenders who tested positive for use of multiple drugs at the time of their arrest and who had no prior arrests were more likely to have subsequent multiple arrests than offenders who had not tested positive. A 3-year followup study of the probationers revealed substantial continuity of drug use and a greater prevalence of cocaine use. Most probationers failed to inform their probation officers about their drug use or to request treatment. The authors suggest that urinalysis of probationers is crucial if the criminal justice system is to address offenders' drug abuse. 22 tables, 1 figure, 27 references, and 1 appendix.