Drugs and Crime: A Study of Incarcerated Female Offenders

• NCJ Number: 208546
• Author(s): Holly Johnson
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 138 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Research and Public Policy Series No. 63; downloaded January 27, 2005. For related document, see NCJ-208547.

Annotation

This study analyzed the relationship between drugs and crime among incarcerated adult women in Australia.

Abstract

The Australian Institute of Criminology has undertaken research concerning the drug use careers of incarcerated offenders in Australia entitled the Drug Use Careers of Offenders (DUCO) study. This report presents findings from the DUCO female offenders study. Results for adult male and juvenile offenders are reported elsewhere. The goal of the DUCO female offenders study was to explore the interaction between drug use and criminal offending among women incarcerated in Australia. Participants for the female offenders study were 470 women incarcerated in prisons throughout Australia during 2003. Participants were interviewed regarding their offense histories, drug use, and their perceptions of the link between drug use and criminal offending. Overall, the incarcerated women had extensive criminal histories; three-quarters of participants considered themselves “regular” offenders. The majority of these women were involved in multiple property crimes and drug offenses. Half of property offenders were motivated to commit their crimes in order to buy drugs. A full 42 percent of participants reported being under the influence of drugs at the time of the current offense and 27 percent reported being under the influence of alcohol. Fifty-five percent of participants considered themselves drug dependent. Risk factors for drug use and offending among females were identified as early exposure to drug and alcohol abuse by family members, incarceration as a juvenile, mental health problems, and histories of physical and sexual abuse. The findings suggest four main avenues for interventions with drug involved female offenders: (1) an interagency approach to ensure treatment for the range of factors identified as significant for female offenders; (2) the prevention of drug dependency through rapid interventions and effective programming; (3) early interventions with families of high-risk women to derail the intergenerational transmission of drug abuse and offending; and (4) programs targeted specifically at women. Tables, figures, appendixes, references