NCJ Number
87925
Journal
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (1981) Pages: 199-211
Date Published
1981
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Questionnaire responses from 100 Chicano drug dealers arrested in South Texas and placed on probation indicated that the typical dealer grew up in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood, received little formal education, and dealt in marijuana to meet critical financial needs.
Abstract
The 92 males and 8 females in the sample ranged in age from 18 to 60 years, with the average being about 28. Over half were married; all were of Mexican descent, although all did not identify themselves as Chicano. The probation staff administered an oral questionnaire of 35 items to the subjects. The average number of school years completed for 97 respondents was 9.7 years. Nearly half felt they had not taken advantage of school, and a minority felt rejected or excluded by the schools. Only 47 respondents reported being employed at the time of their arrest, and most were in working class occupations. Most probationers were first time offenders. Of the 79 persons responding to questions about income, 63 stated their personal income was under $6,999, while 6 cited income of $7,000-$9,999 and 10 stated they earned $10,000-$14,999. The majority of the probationers who answered items on reasons for drug dealing said it was for money alone. Few probationers saw themselves as criminals, and nearly all viewed themselves as morally acceptable persons. Moreover, most felt that marijuana was not as bad as heroin, cocaine, or LSD, that the current marijuana statutes were wrong, and that this drug would eventually be legalized. The majority stated that given the conditions of better education and higher paying jobs, they would no longer deal in marijuana. The results suggest that moral and legal sanctions against selling marijuana fail to deter dealing. The article includes 15 references.