NCJ Number
51310
Journal
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1970) Pages: 73-78
Date Published
1970
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CRIMINAL HISTORIES AND SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS OF HEAVY DRINKERS ARE COMPARED TO THOSE OF MODERATE AND AND NONDRINKERS IN A STRATIFIED SAMPLE OF 404 PRISONERS AND EX-PRISONERS FROM 3 LONDON PRISONS.
Abstract
IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT A FULL RANGE OF PRISONERS WAS INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY, THE MONTHLY DISCHARGE RATES OF THREE LONDON PRISONS WAS DETERMINED, AND THE SAMPLE OF 306 TO BE EXAMINED WAS THEN SELECTED AT RANDOM FROM THESE PRISONS, IN NUMBERS PROPORTIONAL TO THEIR DISCHARGE RATE AND THE LENGTH OF THE SENTENCES SERVED. THIS PROVIDED A SAMPLE OF 106 SUBJECTS FROM BRIXTON (FOR THOSE SERVING THEIR FIRST PRISON SENTENCE); 35 FROM EASTCHURCH OPEN PRISON (FOR MORE TRUSTWORTHY PRISONERS); AND 165 FROM PENTONVILLE (RECIDIVISTS, EXCLUDING THOSE SERVING LONG SENTENCES). THE SAMPLE WAS BIASED IN FAVOR OF OFFENDERS SERVING SHORTER SENTENCES AND INCLUDED A LARGE PROPORTION OF FIRST OFFENDERS. TO COMPLETE THE SAMPLE OF 404, 98 EX-PRISONERS FROM LONDON PRISONS APPLYING FOR AFTERCARE SERVICES WERE INCLUDED. THEY WERE DEEMED NOT SUFFICIENTLY DIFFERENT IN THE FACTORS STUDIED TO BIAS THE RESULTS. ONLY 5 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECTS HAD BEEN SENTENCED FOR DRUNKENNESS. FROM THE INTERVIEWS, FOUR CLASSES WERE DISTINGUISHED: (1) THOSE WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS FOR DRUNKENNESS (22 %); (2) THOSE WHO ADMITTED DRINKING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT SERIOUSLY INTERFERED WITH THEIR SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT (18%); (2) THOSE WITH NO SERIOUS DRINKING PROBLEM (51%); AND (4) A GROUP FOR WHICH INFORMATION WAS UNCERTAIN (9%). THE DATA REVEALED THAT THE HEAVY DRINKERS WERE MORE FREQUENTLY ROMAN CATHOLIC, CAME FROM SCOTLAND AND IRELAND, AND PARTS OF ENGLAND OTHER THAN LONDON, AND HAD LONGER CRIMINAL RECORDS, ESPECIALLY OF A MIXTURE OF PROPERTY, VIOLENT, AND SEXUAL OFFENSES. THEY HAD LESS OFTEN BEEN SERIOUS JUVENILE OFFENDERS, AND CAME FROM LARGE, POOR FAMILIES WITH MANY HEAVY DRINKERS. THEY ACCOUNTED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL OR INCURRED VENEREAL DISEASE. THEY WERE MORE OFTEN SINGLE, OR IF MARRIED, MORE OFTEN SEPARATED OR DIVORCED. IN THEIR CURRENT SOCIAL SITUATION, THEY WERE MORE OFTEN OUT OF CONTACT WITH ANY OF THEIR FAMILY, UNEMPLOYED, RECEIVING WELFARE, IN HOSTELS, AND WITHOUT REGULAR HOUSING. DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)