ADDICTION, CRIME, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 13807
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1973) Pages: 3-7
• Author(s): J VORENBERG; I F LUKOFF
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-046; 72-NI-99-0008
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINDINGS FROM A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIONS ON THE IMPACT OF METHADONE TREATMENT ON CRIME REDUCTIONS.

Abstract

COMMUNITY CONCERN OVER HEROIN ADDICTION REVOLVES AROUND THE ASSOCIATION OF CRIME WITH HEROIN ABUSE. HOWEVER, PRELIMINARY RESEARCH FINDINGS AT THE ADDICTION RESEARCH AND TREATMENT CORPORATION SHOW THAT FOR A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF THE PATIENT GROUP IN A METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ANTEDATES THE ONSET OF HEROIN USE. AN ANALYSIS OF OFFICIAL POLICE RECORDS INDICATES THAT ALTHOUGH ARREST RATES DECLINE WHILE PATIENTS ARE IN THE PROGRAM, THE BULK OF THE DECLINE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO FEWER ARRESTS FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT 'IT IS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT RADICAL CHANGES IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR FROM A METHADONE - BASED PROGRAM.' DATA REVEALS THAT THE CONTINUANCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS A FUNCTION OF THE AGE OF ONSET OF DRUG USE, WHETHER CRIME OUTDATES DRUG USE AND THE AGING OF THE POPULATION IN TREATMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)