NCJ Number
56753
Journal
British Journal of Addiction Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Dated: (1972) Pages: 201-204
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE RELIABILITY OF ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS AS A PREDICTOR OF FUTURE CRIMINALITY IS TESTED IN A STUDY OF ALL DELINQUENTS CONVICTED IN FINNISH JUVENILE COURTS IN 1965.
Abstract
OF THE 741 STUDY SUBJECTS, WHOSE AGES IN 1965 RANGED FROM 16 TO 20, 242 HAD PRIOR ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS. ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECTS' CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR 1970 THROUGH 1975 FOUND THAT 53 PERCENT HAD COMMITTED FURTHER OFFENSES DURING THESE YEARS. THE RECIVIDISM RATE FOR SUBJECTS WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR DRUNKENNESS IN THEIR YOUTH WAS 65.3 PERCENT, SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE 47.1 PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE FOR OTHER YOUTHS. RECIDIVISTS WITH ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES (21.5 PERCENT) THAN WERE OTHER RECIDIVISTS (11.6 PERCENT). RECIDIVISTS WITH ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES OF PROPERTY CRIMES, BUT NOT OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES, THAN DID OTHER RECIDIVISTS. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS DO PREDICT LATER CRIMINALITY, ESPECIALLY VIOLENT CRIMINALITY, IN SUBJECTS WHO COMMIT OFFENSES AS JUVENILES. NO TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)