NCJ Number
53494
Journal
Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 38 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 1648-1664
Date Published
1977
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF 935 ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS IN 4 MENTAL ILLNESS HOSPITALS IN ENGLAND FINDS THAT 32 PERCENT OF THE MALE PATIENTS AND 17 PERCENT OF THE FEMALES HAD CRIMINAL RECORDS.
Abstract
THE STUDY SAMPLE INCLUDED 678 MEN AND 257 WOMEN, MEAN AGE 45.2 YEARS, WHO WERE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITALS BETWEEN JANUARY 1953 AND DECEMBER 1957. THE TYPICAL ALCOHOLIC OFFENDER'S FIRST OFFENSE OCCURRED RELATIVELY LATE IN LIFE, A CHARACTERISTIC FOUND IN OTHER STUDIES OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND CRIMINALITY. RECIDIVISM DATA SUGGEST THAT ALCOHOLIC OFFENDERS ARE AT HIGH RISK OF BEING CONVICTED FOR A SECOND OFFENSE. ALTHOUGH FINDINGS ON AGE AT ONSET AND RECIDIVISM DO NOT PROVE A CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND CRIME, THEY ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED WERE SUCH A LINK EXISTENT. THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT OVERSIMPLIFYING THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND CRIMINALITY IS BROUGHT OUT, AS IS THE NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY ANY STRATEGY AIMED AT REDUCING CRIME BY CONTROLLING ALCOHOLISM. COST AND MANPOWER LIMITATIONS ON A TREATMENT-DIRECTED STRATEGY FOR COMBATING ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIME ARE POINTED OUT, THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT PREVENTION IS A MORE PRACTICAL APPROACH. HOWEVER, IN CONSIDERING THE MANIPULATION OF LIQUOR PRICES AND SALES LICENSES AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING EXCESSIVE DRINKING, THE POSSIBILITY OF BACKLASH (E.G., ALCOHOLICS ENGAGING IN MORE ACQUISITIVE CRIME TO OBTAIN DRINK) MUST BE RECOGNIZED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)