NCJ Number
48086
Journal
British Journal of Addiction Volume: 71 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 149-153
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
TO EXAMINE POSSIBLE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CRIMINALITY AND ALCOHOLISM, A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF 202 SWEDISH MEN REGISTERED AT THE STOCKHOLM BUREAU FOR HOMELESS MEN IN 1969 WAS UNDERTAKEN.
Abstract
INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECTS WAS OBTAINED FROM TEMPERANCE BOARD, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND THE GENERAL CRIMINAL REGISTER RECORDS. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STUDY PERIOD, 30 PERCENT OF THE INDIVIDUALS STUDIED WERE UNDER 40 YEARS OF AGE, 54 PERCENT WERE BETWEEN 40 AND 59, AND 16 PERCENT WERE 60 OR OLDER. OF THE SAMPLE, 97 PERCENT HAD BEEN REGISTERED FOR DRINKING OFFENSES, 96 PERCENT WERE KNOWN TO THE TEMPERANCE BOARD, 56 PERCENT HAD BEEN UNDER BOARD SUPERVISION, AND 36 PERCENT HAD BEEN TREATED AT LEAST ONCE FOR ALCOHOLISM. AT LEAST 40 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE HAD REGULARLY ABUSED DRUGS BESIDES ALCOHOL. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STUDY PERIOD, 77 PERCENT WERE ENTERED IN THE CRIMINAL REGISTER. AFTER 3 YEARS, 96 PERCENT WERE ENTERED IN THE CRIMINAL REGISTER OR WITH NATIONAL BOARD OF EXCISE (FOR DRUNKENNESS AND OTHER ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES). THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF SENTENCES PER REGISTERED INDIVIDUAL WAS 5.3. 75 PERCENT OF THOSE REGISTERED WHO WERE UNDER 40 HAD RECEIVED THEIR FIRST SENTENCE BEFORE THE AGE OF 25, WHILE 43 PERCENT OF THOSE IN THE 40 TO 59 AGE GROUP AND 33 PERCENT OF THOSE IN THE OVER 60 GROUP HAD BEEN SENTENCED PRIOR TO AGE 25. OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY WERE THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF CRIME, FOLLOWED BY VIOLENT CRIMES, DRUNKEN DRIVING, AND SEXUAL OFFENSES. OF ALL THOSE RECEIVING SENTENCES, 79 PERCENT RECEIVED MAXIMUM SENTENCES OF UNDER 1 YEAR. DURING THE 3-YEAR OBSERVATION PERIOD, 24 SUBJECTS DIED; OF THE REMAINING 178 PERSONS, 29 PERCENT WERE REGISTERED FOR OFFENSES. OF THE 52 MEN WHO COMMITTED CRIMES DURING THE 3-YEAR PERIOD, 50 HAD COMMITTED PREVIOUS OFFENSES. THE RECIDIVISM RATE WAS HIGHEST IN THE 40 TO 59 YEAR AGE GROUP, WHILE NO RECIDIVISM WAS NOTED IN THE OVER 60 GROUP. DESPITE THE HIGH RATES OF CRIMINALITY AND RECIDIVISM, COMPARED WITH RATES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION, SERIOUS OFFENSES WERE RECORDED IN ONLY A FEW CASES. THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF CRIMINALTY RECORDED FOR THIS SAMPLE BEFORE AGE 25 SUGGESTS THAT THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND CRIMINALITY IS NOT A SIMPLE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP. RATHER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT BOTH ALCOHOL ABUSE AND CRIMINALITY MAY BE MANIFESTATIONS OF OTHER FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO A PATTERN OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)