CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OF ARTC (ADDICTION RESEARCH AND TREATMENT CORPORATION) DRUG PROGRAM PATIENTS - FINAL REPORT, 4TH YEAR

• NCJ Number: 18805
• Author(s): D K SECHREST; P R CIREL
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 83 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Columbia University; Harvard University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF THIS METHADONE MAINTENANCE/DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM'S SUCCESS IN DECREASING PATIENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY SUBSEQUENT TO ADMISSION AND TREATMENT.

Abstract

ALSO ASSESSED WERE THE TYPES OF PATIENTS WHO BENEFITTED THE MOST AND THE LEAST FROM THE PROGRAM. THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES EARLIER ANALYTICAL WORK DONE ON ARTC AND PRESENTS MORE CURRENT FINDINGS BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF A TWO-YEAR FOLLOW-UP COHORT OF 990 PATIENTS. THESE FINDINGS INCLUDE DATA ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND ADDICTION IN THE PRE-ADDICTION, ADDICTION, AND POST PROGRAM ENTRY STAGES OF THE COHORT, PATIENT RETENTION BY RATES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AND COMPARISONS OF PATIENTS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ON KEY DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS. AS WITH EARLIER REPORTS, CHARGE RATES FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WILL BE USED, ALTHOUGH A DISCUSSION OF A TRANSITION TO THE USE OF ARREST RATES IN FUTURE REPORTS IS PRESENTED. EVALUATION FINDINGS INDICATED THAT 37.4 PER CENT OF ARTC PATIENTS WERE DECREASING THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AFTER PROGRAM ENTRY, WITH THE MOST IMPACT BEING REGISTERED IN RELATION TO DRUG, PROPERTY, AND PROSTITUTION TYPES OF OFFENSES. THE THESIS THAT PATIENTS WHO BEGIN THE PROGRAM WITH LESS SERIOUS CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT WILL SHOW THE MOST IMPROVEMENT WAS NOT SUBSTANTIATED. (EVALUATIVE DATA INCLUDED BOTH PROGRAM RETAINEES AND DROPOUTS - THOSE LEAVING THE PROGRAM PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF THEIR TWENTY-FOURTH MONTH). A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)